Mohammed Shami has sent a strong message to the Indian selectors amid his continued absence from the national team. The experienced fast bowler believes he has already proved his fitness and ability through his performances for Bengal. Despite his outstanding record in major ICC tournaments, Shami is still waiting for another opportunity to represent India.
His latest remarks have once again raised questions about why one of India’s most successful ODI fast bowlers remains outside the team.
Shami Sends a Strong Message After Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s Comeback
With Bhuvneshwar Kumar returning to India’s T20I squad for the New Zealand series, Shami was asked whether the development had given him fresh hope of making an international comeback.
Shami welcomed Bhuvneshwar’s selection but made it clear that his focus was on his own cricket.
“Bhuvneshwar Kumar got the chance to play for India, and that’s good for him,” Shami said. “But his selection doesn’t concern me. Wherever I get the chance to play, I will give my best.”
The pacer then delivered a statement that could attract considerable attention from the selectors.
“The same thing has been happening with me for the last two or three years,” he said. “I have been performing and have proved my fitness for Bengal. If I don’t get the chance to play for India again, it’s not my loss.”
His comments underline his confidence in his performances and suggest that he is no longer interested in repeatedly proving himself.
Mohammed Shami’s Outstanding World Cup and Champions Trophy Records
Shami’s frustration becomes easier to understand when looking at his performances in India’s biggest ODI tournaments.
During the 2023 ODI World Cup, Shami finished as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker despite missing India’s first four matches. He claimed an incredible 24 wickets in just seven matches at a bowling average of 10.70.
His campaign included three five-wicket hauls, a record for a single edition of the men’s ODI World Cup. He also registered remarkable figures of 7/57 against New Zealand in the semifinal.
Shami averaged an astonishing 3.43 wickets per match, showing how frequently he delivered breakthroughs for India.
An injury subsequently kept him out of international cricket for an extended period. However, he returned for the 2025 Champions Trophy and once again delivered when India needed him.
He picked up nine wickets during India’s title-winning campaign, finishing as the team’s joint-highest wicket-taker alongside Varun Chakravarthy.
These numbers become even more impressive when his overall ODI career is considered.
Shami has taken 206 wickets in 108 ODIs, averaging approximately 1.91 wickets per match. His bowling average of 24.05 and strike rate of 25.85 balls per wicket further demonstrate his effectiveness.
Few Indian fast bowlers have maintained such a high wicket-taking rate over a substantial ODI career.
Shami Has Already Proved His Fitness in Domestic Cricket
While questions have been raised about Shami’s fitness, his recent domestic performances tell a different story.
During the 2025–26 Ranji Trophy season, Shami took 37 wickets in seven matches for Bengal. He also claimed 15 wickets in seven Vijay Hazare Trophy matches and 16 wickets in seven Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy games.
These performances strengthen his argument that he is fit enough to compete at a high level. However, match fitness and the workload requirements of international cricket remain matters for the selectors and team management to assess.
For now, Shami has made his priorities clear. His immediate focus is Bengal’s Ranji Trophy campaign, and he intends to give his best wherever he plays.
Is India Missing Mohammed Shami in ODI Cricket?
Shami’s absence has become a talking point as India searches for a settled pace attack ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Jasprit Bumrah remains India’s leading fast bowler, but his workload management means he cannot be expected to feature in every series. Meanwhile, India have experimented with different pace options without establishing a consistent combination.
Former India batter Wasim Jaffer has also questioned the uncertainty surrounding India’s second and third fast-bowling options. He believes Shami should remain in the ODI plans and has identified Bumrah, Shami and Mohammed Siraj as his preferred pace combination.
Shami’s record makes his continued exclusion difficult to ignore. A bowler who delivered 24 wickets in seven World Cup matches and nine wickets in five Champions Trophy matches has demonstrated his ability to perform on the biggest stages.
Whether the selectors reconsider his position remains to be seen. But with the next ODI World Cup approaching, leaving a proven wicket-taker out of India’s plans could prove a costly decision.
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