Ignored for the India vs England series, Mohammed Shami set for his return to action
Mohammed Shami was ignored for the five-match India vs England series due to skepticism around his fitness to bowl longer spells. Having missed out on the start of the new WTC Cycle, the seasoned speedster could be gearing up for a long-awaited return to competitive cricket next month. The 34-year-old pacer, who has battled injuries and inconsistent form since his last outing for India in March 2025, has now been included in the preliminary squad of Bengal, with 50 players, for the upcoming domestic season. If picked, Shami’s return could come at the Duleep Trophy, which kicks off on August 28.
Mohammed Shami named in Bengal's probable squad for the upcoming domestic season
Mohammed Shami has enviable records to boast about with over 60 Tests reflecting in his credentials as India's main pacer at a time. His most recent international appearance came during India’s title-winning run at the ICC Champions Trophy earlier this year. In Bumrah's absence, Shami took nine wickets in five matches, finishing as India’s joint-highest wicket-taker alongside Varun Chakravarthy. Despite this strong performance on the international stage, his IPL 2025 campaign with Sunrisers Hyderabad told a different story.
Shami struggled for rhythm throughout the tournament, taking only six wickets across nine matches and conceding runs at an economy rate of 11.23. His team failed to make the playoffs, and the veteran pacer’s underwhelming season didn’t help his case for a Test recall. Following the IPL, Shami was not named in the India squad for the five-match series in England. His exclusion was the result of both performance concerns and lingering fitness issues. An ankle surgery in early 2024 and continued knee troubles hampered his availability.
While a domestic return through Bengal or East Zone may not grab headlines, it represents an important step for Shami to demonstrate that his body and bowling rhythm can still withstand the demands of a full cricket season. After a hiatus of over a year due to ankle surgery, Shami used the same template for his return. Before earning a spot in the India squad for the Champions Trophy, Shami returned to domestic cricket, playing the Ranji Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Bengal. While currently out of India's future plans, a breakthrough performance in the Duleep Trophy could realign the prospects for the senior speedster.
