Mohammed Shami's India Career in Jeopardy Despite Domestic Dominance and Champions Trophy Heroics

Advertisment

Mohammed Shami's illustrious international career appears to be nearing an uncertain end, with the 35-year-old pacer potentially having played his last match for India in the Champions Trophy final against New Zealand in March 2025. Despite delivering a triumphant comeback performance and proving his fitness through consistent domestic performances, the veteran quick finds himself inexplicably sidelined from national selection.

Shami's Champions Trophy campaign showcased his enduring quality, as he spearheaded India's pace attack and featured as the only specialist seamer in the final three matches. His tournament-opening figures of five for 53 against Bangladesh set the tone, and he finished with nine wickets, second only to New Zealand's Matt Henry. For a player returning from a lengthy injury layoff that had kept him out since the 2023 World Cup, it was a statement performance.

However, what followed has left Shami and cricket observers bewildered. The Amroha-born pacer has been overlooked for selection for at least the next 12 months, triggering a public dispute with chief selector Ajit Agarkar over fitness concerns. Shami's pointed response questioning why selectors would rely on players for fitness updates rather than medical staff highlighted the confusion surrounding his exclusion.

Advertisment

The numbers tell a compelling story of a pacer in prime form. Since late August, Shami has delivered 266.3 overs across 19 domestic matches, claiming 52 wickets. In the Ranji Trophy, he has bowled more overs than any Bengal teammate while taking 20 wickets in four matches. He also topped Bengal's wicket charts in both the Vijay Hazare Trophy with 15 scalps and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 16 wickets. If fitness was genuinely the concern, these statistics decisively refute such doubts.

India has begun investing in younger pace options, including Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Prasidh Krishna across formats, signaling a possible transition phase. Yet with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja, all older than Shami, reportedly still in contention for the 2027 World Cup, questions arise about consistency in selection policy.

The pacer's 462 international wickets and proven big-match temperament, exemplified by his tournament-high 24 wickets in the 2023 World Cup, deserve better closure. Former teammate Wriddhiman Saha received clarity from Rahul Dravid about his international future in 2022. Shami deserves similar respect and transparency after serving Indian cricket with distinction for over 12 years. At a minimum, he deserves to know definitively where he stands rather than existing in selection limbo.

Advertisment