Ahead of the crucial England series, veteran Indian bowler Mohammed Shami‘s spot in the Test playing XI is seriously in doubt. Due to a combination of chronic injury, inconsistent fitness, and a recent slump in performance, selectors are reconsidering his role, and a number of younger bowlers are vying for a spot.
The 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) final was the last time Mohammed Shami wore India’s whites.
He then had surgery to address a persistent Achilles tendon issue. He missed the full 2023–25 WTC cycle due to his recovery, and although selectors hoped for a comeback during the Border–Gavaskar series, they decided to continue with Harshit Rana, Akash Deep, and Prasidh Krishna in order to help Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah.
The right-arm speedster was included in the squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy and made his comeback to international cricket in the limited-overs series against England, although his performances have been far from stellar. The 34-year-old, who plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2025, was mostly unsuccessful. In nine games, he took just six wickets, averaging 56.17 runs per dismissal while giving up runs at an economy rate of 11.23. A TOI report claims that national selectors are worried about Mohammed Shami form and level of fitness.
“Shami isn’t a sure pick just yet. Even though he returned to international cricket months ago, he has hardly been able to keep up. Shami is having trouble finishing his run-up, and the ball is not carrying to the keeper as it did prior to his Achilles tendon injury, even if IPL results are typically not taken into account when selecting India teams. After a few period of recuperation, he always returns to the dressing room,” a source informed the Times of India.
Shami has long been India’s preferred pacer in international settings, particularly in England, where he has participated in 14 Test matches and claimed 42 wickets. He hasn’t claimed any five-wicket hauls on English soil, either, and those wickets have come at an average of 40.50. But now that Mohammed Shami isn’t a surefire choice, the selectors are looking at other options. Yash Dayal, Arshdeep Singh, and Khaleel Ahmed have emerged as the front-runners for the position.
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