Ignored but not finished: Mohammed Shami targeting 2027 ODI World Cup swansong
Left out of the national squad and ignored despite another impressive domestic season, Mohammed Shami refuses to give up hope of returning to the Indian team.
The fast bowler, who turns 36 in September, has not represented India since the Champions Trophy in 2025. One of the driving forces behind India’s fast-bowling unit between 2015 and 2023, the final chapter of Shami’s international career remains one of the biggest unanswered questions in Indian cricket.
Despite regaining full fitness and wreaking havoc in domestic cricket, Shami has consistently been overlooked by the selectors. Yet, whenever his name comes up, India’s selection committee has stopped short of ruling him out completely.
The closest chief selector Ajit Agarkar came to addressing Shami’s future was ahead of India’s one-off Test against Afghanistan earlier this year.
“I know he has played a domestic season this year. But from the information that I have got, is that at this point it’s T20 cricket that he’s sort of ready for,” Agarkar had said.
For a bowler who claimed 37 wickets in seven Ranji Trophy matches last season and followed it up with 15 wickets in seven Vijay Hazare Trophy games, that assessment appeared a little harsh.
But the repeated snubs have not deterred Shami. The veteran pacer continues to harbour hopes of an India comeback and has quietly gone about preparing for another domestic season. According to his childhood coach Mohammed Badruddin, Shami has shed five kilograms since last season and is working harder than ever to get himself back into the best possible shape.
“Shami’s mood is positive. He is quite motivated for the next season,” a chirpy Badruddin told India Today over the phone.
Badruddin believes it would be unwise for India to completely move on from a bowler of Shami’s experience, especially at a time when injuries continue to plague the country’s fast-bowling stocks.
“He still has cricket left. He is ready, and if the country needs him, he will be ready to serve,” the coach said.
India’s fast-bowling resources have struggled with both injuries and inconsistency over the past year. Harshit Rana remains sidelined after suffering yet another injury setback. The young pacer had already missed the T20 World Cup earlier this year because of a knee problem and was ruled out once again after bowling just 14 overs on the tour of England.
Meanwhile, Gurnoor Brar, who was fast-tracked into the Indian team because of his height, raw pace and ability to bowl a heavy ball, endured a difficult ODI series in England, conceding 61, 67 and 97 runs in the three matches.
Badruddin argued that overseas conditions are rarely easy for inexperienced fast bowlers and believes India would benefit from carrying a seasoned campaigner like Shami into major assignments, including the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa.
“India did not bowl well in England, where the fast bowlers get a lot of help. Shami could have been really useful there. It is not easy to bowl in South Africa. You need experience there,” he said.
The argument is difficult to dismiss. Apart from Jasprit Bumrah, who has been managed carefully in the build-up to ICC tournaments, India have struggled to establish a settled pace attack that can be trusted from one series to the next.
Nitish Reddy, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna formed India’s pace attack in the first ODI against Afghanistan. Barely a couple of weeks later in England, the combination had already changed to Bumrah, Prasidh, Gurnoor and Shivam Dube. Hardik Pandya, India’s premier fast-bowling all-rounder, also continues to remain unavailable because of injury.
For Badruddin, the recurring injuries point to a larger issue in Indian cricket.
“The focus is on indoor training and the gym. You need ground fitness for fast bowling. Running, sprinting. That’s what the focus should be,” he said.
“You can get shape in the gym, but not stamina. Whatever the physio says you have to do, you have to do it. But separately, you have to get onto the ground and build your running muscles as well,” he added.
The veteran coach also questioned the relentless workload on India’s fast bowlers.
“Indian fast bowlers simply do not get enough rest. They need a month’s time to recover. Where is the rest?” Badruddin concluded.
Whether the selectors are willing to give him another opportunity remains to be seen. But as India continue their search for a settled pace attack ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, Shami’s experience and sustained domestic performances should, at the very least, keep him in the conversation. After all, the veteran has an outstanding record in South Africa, with 44 wickets in 11 international matches at an average of 22.68.
If a comeback is no longer part of India’s plans, then perhaps what Mohammed Shami deserves most is clarity.
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