For months, it felt like Mohammed Shami was quietly drifting away from India's Test plans.
The injuries kept returning. Younger fast bowlers kept emerging. And with India slowly entering another transition phase in red-ball cricket, the assumption around Shami's future had started to change from "when he returns" to "whether he returns at all. "
But as selectors prepare to finalise India's squad for the upcoming Test against Afghanistan - and begin shaping a larger pace strategy for the England series - Shami's name is suddenly back in serious contention.
Not because of nostalgia. Because his numbers, fitness, and skillset have made ignoring him increasingly difficult.
Mohammed Shami domestic season quietly rebuilt his case
While much of the attention remained on IPL storylines and emerging fast bowlers,
Shami spent the domestic season doing something simple: taking wickets everywhere.
The veteran seamer finished with:
- 36 wickets in the Ranji Trophy
- 16 wickets in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
- 15 wickets in the Vijay Hazare Trophy
Even in IPL 2026, despite not operating at peak rhythm consistently, he has still managed nine wickets in 10 matches.
More importantly, according to reports, the selectors were never evaluating Shami purely through numbers.
His stature inside Indian cricket means the conversation has always been larger than statistics alone.
"He is a proven player," a source said, summing up the growing internal push for his return.
India's biggest problem may actually help Mohammed Shami
India's pace attack suddenly looks vulnerable in one specific area: experience.
With Jasprit Bumrah expected to have his workload carefully managed during the England Tests, and India continuing to rotate pacers aggressively, the management faces a difficult balancing act.
That makes Shami valuable again.
Not just because he can take wickets - but because he still offers something very few Indian bowlers consistently do in overseas conditions: late swing at high pace.
The selectors are believed to be reassessing him specifically for that reason.
The trust deficit that still surrounds Mohammed Shami
And yet, despite the growing momentum behind his comeback, there remains hesitation inside Indian cricket.
The concern is no longer about skill. It is about durability.
Shami's repeated injury breakdowns over the last few years have reportedly created uncertainty within sections of the management about whether India can fully rely on him through a long Test cycle again.
In fact, reports suggest Shami himself believes the team management no longer completely trusts his fitness.
That perhaps explains why this domestic season mattered so much.
By staying fit throughout the Ranji Trophy, white-ball domestic cricket, and the IPL, Shami has attempted to answer the one question that continues to follow him.
India caught between transition and experience
What makes the debate fascinating is that it perfectly captures India's current Test crossroads.
On one side:
- selectors want to groom younger quicks for the future,
- build depth,
- and move toward the next pace generation.
On the other: India still need experienced bowlers capable of surviving difficult overseas phases immediately.
That tension now defines Shami's situation.
But others believe proven match-winners remain essential, especially during a demanding England tour where rotation will become unavoidable.
The Karun Nair comparison explains everything
Perhaps the most revealing line around Shami's comeback debate is the comparison now being quietly made with Karun Nair.
If India are willing to reopen the door for players once considered outside the Test setup, then Shami's case becomes impossible to dismiss.
Because unlike many comeback hopefuls, Shami is not relying on reputation alone.
He has rebuilt his case through performances, fitness, and persistence.
And after spending months on the edge of India's red-ball plans, Mohammed Shami suddenly finds himself back in the middle of the conversation again.
