Mohammed Shami’s long wait for a return to the Indian cricket team has suddenly become one of the biggest talking points in Indian cricket. The veteran fast bowler has not played for India since the 2025 Champions Trophy final against New Zealand. Despite continuing to perform strongly in domestic cricket, Shami has remained outside the national setup. Now, the situation may be changing. The return of fellow experienced pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar to India’s T20I squad has prompted former spinner R Ashwin to suggest that Shami’s door may not be closed either. At the same time, former India batter Wasim Jaffer has openly urged the selectors to consider Shami for the Test and ODI teams..
R Ashwin Sees a Possible Opening for Shami
Speaking on his YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat, R Ashwin pointed to the change in India’s selection setup following Ajit Agarkar’s exit as chief selector. According to Ashwin, the selection of Bhuvneshwar Kumar could indicate that experience is once again being given greater importance. He argued that if Bhuvneshwar’s return has opened the door for an experienced fast bowler, there is no reason to assume that Shami’s international career is necessarily over. Ashwin also highlighted India’s dependence on Jasprit Bumrah and suggested that the bowling attack could become vulnerable when Bumrah is unavailable. His comments do not mean that Shami has been selected. Instead, they have reignited the possibility of a comeback..
Why Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s Return Matters
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s return is significant because the experienced pacer has been away from the Indian team for around four years. He has now been selected for India’s upcoming T20I series against New Zealand after strong performances in domestic and franchise cricket. Ashwin believes Bhuvneshwar’s selection could signal a different approach from the selectors — one where experience and current performance are considered alongside youth. That is precisely why Shami’s name has returned to the conversation..
Wasim Jaffer Wants Shami in India’s Plans
Wasim Jaffer has gone a step further. The former India batter has urged selectors not to overlook Shami, particularly with India’s pace attack still looking unsettled ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. Jaffer believes Shami deserves another opportunity and has specifically argued for his inclusion in India’s ODI plans. He also wants the fast bowler to be considered for the Test team.
Jaffer’s argument is based largely on Shami’s performances after returning from his long injury lay-off. His message to the selectors is clear: if Shami continues to be ignored despite producing results, the opportunity to bring him back could eventually disappear..
Shami Has Continued Taking Wickets
Shami’s case is strengthened by his performances away from international cricket. After returning to domestic cricket, he continued to take wickets for Bengal across formats. According to Times of India, Shami claimed 37 wickets in seven Ranji Trophy matches during the 2025-26 season. He then picked up 15 wickets in seven Vijay Hazare Trophy matches and 16 wickets in seven Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy games. He also made an impressive start to the 2026-27 season with East Zone in the Duleep Trophy. That consistency has kept his name in the conversation even while he has remained outside India’s plans..
The 2023 World Cup Still Strengthens His Case
Shami’s record at the 2023 ODI World Cup remains one of the strongest arguments in favour of considering him for the 50-over format. He took 23 wickets in just seven matches, averaging 10.70. An ankle injury subsequently kept him out for a lengthy period, followed by surgery and rehabilitation. He eventually returned to international cricket and was part of India’s successful 2025 Champions Trophy campaign. His last international appearance came in the tournament final against New Zealand..
Why Has Shami Been Out of the Team?
Shami’s absence has been a complicated issue involving fitness, injuri
es and selection decisions. The fast bowler spent significant time recovering from his ankle injury and surgery. After returning to competitive cricket, questions about his fitness continued to surround his selection. There was also a public exchange between Shami and former chief selector Ajit Agarkar over the issue. Agarkar had previously cited fitness concerns, while Shami subsequently pointed to his participation in domestic cricket as evidence of his readiness. With Agarkar no longer leading the selection committee, Ashwin believes the change could potentially work in Shami’s favour..
India’s Pace Bowling Has Created Another Opening
India’s recent ODI bowling performances have added another dimension to the Shami debate. The team has experimented with several fast-bowling options, including Gurnoor Brar, Prasidh Krishna, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Auqib Nabi and Anshul Kamboj. But the attack has not yet appeared completely settled. India’s recent ODI series against the West Indies also exposed concerns about the bowling unit, particularly in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. The West Indies successfully chased a target of 352 in the third ODI, increasing the discussion around India’s bowling options ahead of the 2027 World Cup. That situation has naturally brought an experienced bowler like Shami back into the conversation..
But Not Everyone Believes Shami Should Return
There is also another side to the debate. Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik recently argued that India may have already moved beyond Shami and should focus on other options for the 2027 World Cup. Karthik acknowledged that Shami has bowled well but said he would not currently go back to the veteran pacer for the World Cup. That makes the situation far from settled. The debate is essentially between two approaches: backing an experienced fast bowler who continues to perform domestically, or investing fully in the younger pace options India has been developing..
Could Shami Return Before the 2027 World Cup?
At this stage, there is no official confirmation of Shami’s return. However, the timing is significant. India is building towards the 2027 ODI World Cup, and the team still has to settle its pace-bowling combination. Shami’s experience, record and current domestic performances make him an obvious candidate for consideration. The upcoming ODI and Test assignments could therefore become important opportunities for the selectors to assess the veteran pacer. If Shami continues to perform and remains fit, the pressure to reconsider him could grow.
Shami’s Road Back to Team India
For Shami, this is not simply about adding another international appearance to his career. At 36, he is now competing against younger fast bowlers for limited spots in the Indian team. But his experience is something that cannot easily be replicated. He has played 64 Tests, 108 ODIs and 25 T20Is for India, with 229 Test wickets and 206 ODI wickets. His ability to bowl long spells, generate seam movement and deliver in high-pressure ODI matches remains a major part of his case.
The Door Is Open — But Shami Still Has to Walk Through It
R Ashwin’s comments have certainly increased the noise around Mohammed Shami’s potential return. Wasim Jaffer’s backing has added another strong voice to the argument.
But ultimately, the decision belongs to the selectors. For now, Shami remains outside India’s national squad. What has changed is the conversation around him.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s comeback has shown that an experienced pacer can still force his way back into the picture with the right performances. For Shami, the message is equally straightforward: keep taking wickets, stay fit and make the selectors reconsider. The door may be open again. Whether Shami gets through it will depend on what happens next.