Mohammed Shami seems to have made his peace with the fact that he may have played his last match for India. The backbone of India’s bowling for 12 years, Shami became India’s go-to man during the Virat Kohli, Ravi Shastri era, starring in three ODI World Cups and emerging as India’s leading wicket-taker in the 2019 and 2023 editions. Shami last played in the final of the 2025 Champions Trophy, which India won against New Zealand, but since then, despite attaining full fitness, the pacer has struggled to return to the Indian team.
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Even today, Shami still can’t wrap his head around what more he needs to do to make a comeback. He was first sidelined from T20Is, then ODIs, and now in Tests. Despite picking up 67 wickets in the 2025-26 Indian domestic circuit, Shami is deemed ineligible by the BCCI chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar. When Shami was dropped from India’s T20I set-up after the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, he won the Purple Cap a few months later. Still, he was never considered again.
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“As far as the IPL is concerned, look at my record. No other Indian bowler comes close to me. I am still not a T20 bowler. Look at the last 5-6 years. I have picked close to 130 wickets. What more do you want?” Shami said on the Shubhankar Mishra podcast.
Has Shami played his last for India?
Even if Shami never plays for India again, which appears to be a strong possibility at 35 years old, the fast bowler is happy with what he has achieved. Debuting in the 2013 ODI series against Pakistan at home, Shami was a breakthrough performer for India at the 2023 World Cup. In between, he picked up an ODI hat-trick, took a career-best of 7/57 against New Zealand and became part of India’s Test teams that won in Australia twice. If this is the last we see of Shami in India colours, he’s gone out a content man.
“Honestly, it doesn’t make a difference to me. Look at my domestic record. If you give me the ball, only then will I be able to do something. Otherwise, I can only serve as a water boy. I can take wickets only when I have the ball in hand. But if not, my hands are tied. But it’s not like I am very disturbed or something. I am satisfied. Whatever cricket I have played for India, I have received a lot of name, fame and money. I have given so many years to the country and played so many World Cups,” Shami mentioned.
