Star fast bowler Mohammed Shami, who hasn’t played an international match for India since featuring in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on March 9, 2025, in Dubai against New Zealand, could be
picked for the upcoming three-match ODI between India and New Zealand. According to a report in NDTV, Shami, who is India’s highest wicket-taker in ICC’s white-ball tournaments, could be named in the Indian squad for the three ODIs against New Zealand starting January 11 in Vadodara.
As per a BCCI source, selectors are closely monitoring Shami’s performance in domestic cricket, and his comeback is no longer a distant possibility.
“Mohammed Shami is being discussed on a regular basis. He is not out of reckoning. The only concern is about his fitness. A bowler of his calibre will get wickets. It is wrong to say he is out of the selection radar. He is looking good for the New Zealand One-Day series. Do not be surprised if he is picked, given his experience and ability to take wickets at will. Even the 2027 World Cup is a possibility,” the BCCI source said.
Shami, who finished as the highest wicket-taker in the ODI World Cup 2023, hasn’t played a Test match for India since the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at The Oval in June 2023, and his last T20I appearance was against England in Mumbai on February 2, 2025.
Shami, who is not picked for the T20 World Cup 2026, has been in red-hot form these days. In three matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26, he has six wickets to his credit, and in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025, he accounted for the dismissal of 16 batters in seven Elite Group C matches for Bengal.
Jasprit Bumrah is all set to be rested for the ODI series against New Zealand, and in his absence, Shami could be called up to lead India’s fast bowling attack in the home series.
In India’s last ODI series, which was played against South Africa from November 30 to December 6, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna were the three pacers in the squad, but Krishna, despite taking four wickets in the series decider at Vizag on December 6, failed to impress with his performances.
