Is Mohammed Shami India career over?

India are set to embark on a multi-format series against New Zealand from October 22. The five-match T20I series will kick off the tour, followed by five ODIs and two Test matches. The members of India's T20I squad have already arrived in New Zealand. While the BCCI selectors announced the T20I squad a few days ago, they recently finalised the ODI and Test squads as well.

The big news for Indian fans is the return of senior pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar to the T20I team after four years. He has also arrived in New Zealand with the T20I squad. Following Bhuvneshwar's comeback, fans were hopeful that Mohammed Shami would also return to the ODI setup, especially since Jasprit Bumrah was not selected for the ODI squad due to the upcoming red-ball series commitment, and India's couple new pacers are struggling with their recent performances. However, the team management did not include Shami in any of the squads.

Shami last played for India in the final of the Champions Trophy 2025 and has been out of the national team since then. One of the major reasons behind his absence was a knee injury, for which he also underwent surgery. Since regaining fitness, Shami has been regularly playing domestic cricket, but he has still not been given an opportunity to return to the Indian team. 

In the opening match of the recently commenced Ranji Trophy 2026, Shami represented Bengal and picked up four wickets in the first innings and one in the second, finishing with a total of five wickets. However, he is not playing in Bengal's second match. Bengal coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla revealed that Shami is completely fit and has been rested for the match as part of workload management.

Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif was also disappointed by Mohammed Shami's non-selection and strongly criticised the team management. He believes that Shami is doing everything right to earn a comeback to the Indian team. 

"I believe there should be transparency. Come forward and tell us what the reason is. He is doing everything right. He is playing Ranji, he is taking wickets, what could possibly be the reason? I read somewhere that he is not being selected because he is bowling only short spells. Jasprit Bumrah also bowls short spells, he gets a break after that. In England, when his workload was being managed, Shubman Gill had to manage him with short spells," Mohammad Kaif said. 

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri also came out in support of the veteran pacer. 

“He’s done enough with both red and white balls to be recalled to the Test and ODI sides,’’ Ravi Shastri Said.