SILENCE IN the Indian dressing room regarding the future of Mohammed Shami has finally been broken, but it isn’t coming from the selection committee. Former India bowling coach Bharat Arun has publicly challenged the Ajit Agarkar-led management, sparking a fierce debate over whether one of India’s most lethal seamers has been prematurely sidelined.
As Shami continues to grind through the domestic circuit, proving his fitness and hunger in the Duleep Trophy, the narrative surrounding his international future has taken a contentious turn. Despite the 36-year-old’s proven track record and current high-level performances, he has been notably absent from the national setup since India’s triumphant Champions Trophy campaign in March 2025.
Bharat Arun Questions Omission
Bharat Arun, who oversaw India’s pace revolution during his tenure as bowling coach, is adamant that the current hierarchy is making a tactical error by closing the door on the veteran Bengal pacer. According to Arun, the selectors’ focus on age is a misguided policy that overlooks the rare durability and skill set Shami brings to the table.
“They shouldn’t have closed the door on Shami. There is still plenty of cricket left in him,” Arun remarked in a recent interview. “When someone is performing, age shouldn’t be a factor. You see his durability. It is an outstanding number for the kind of talent he possesses. It is actually befitting for Shami to reach 100 first-class matches with the red ball.”
The tension between Shami and the selectors has been an open secret for some time. Last year, a public spat regarding fitness concerns saw Agarkar’s committee overlook the pacer, leading to a defiant response from the bowler, who insisted that his consistent appearances in the Ranji Trophy were proof enough of his physical readiness. With Jasprit Bumrah’s workload management frequently leaving a void in the pace attack, critics are now asking why a proven match-winner like Shami is being ignored in favor of younger, less experienced options.
The Hunger Remains: Ishan Kishan’s Perspective
While the selectors remain tight-lipped, those sharing the field with Shami tell a different story. East Zone captain Ishan Kishan, who has been leading Shami throughout the current Duleep Trophy campaign, insists that the veteran is not merely “going through the motions.” Instead, he is playing with a level of intensity that rivals his prime years.
“As a captain, looking at the effort, I felt very nice,” Kishan noted ahead of the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai. “Shami bhai comes in and asks me for those extra overs to get the wickets. It gives the team such confidence.”
Kishan highlighted the mental fortitude required for a seasoned international campaigner to return to the domestic grind with the same level of fire. Many veterans in his position might view domestic matches as a chore, but Kishan argues that Shami’s approach is fundamentally different—he is hunting for a spot.
“His intensity, his energy—it has been very different this season,” Kishan added. “When you are not regularly playing for the Indian team, to maintain that same kind of motivation for your domestic games is tough. But I see that hunger in him. He wants to be part of the Indian squad again, and you can see that in every ball he bowls.”
A Milestone of Resilience
The backdrop of this selection controversy is a landmark moment in Shami’s career. The Duleep Trophy final against South Zone marked the 36-year-old’s 100th first-class match, a testament to his longevity in a format that remains the ultimate test for any fast bowler.
His contribution in the semi-final against Central Zone, where he dismantled the opposition lineup with a three-wicket burst in the second innings, served as a potent reminder of his ability to extract movement and pressure even on challenging surfaces.
The Path Forward
The question now remains whether the Indian selectors will acknowledge the groundswell of support for the veteran. In a climate where pace bowling depth is essential to sustained success across formats, the exclusion of a bowler with Shami’s experience and current form appears increasingly difficult to justify.
Whether the selectors feel that they must prioritize the long-term cycle of the next generation or simply believe Shami’s time has passed, the voices of experts like Bharat Arun and current teammates like Ishan Kishan are putting the pressure squarely back on the decision-makers. For now, Shami continues to do what he has done for over a decade: run in, hit the deck, and take wickets. The rest, he hopes, will eventually be out of his hands and back under the scrutiny of those who choose the playing XI.
As the domestic season heats up, the spotlight will stay fixed on the veteran. If he continues to dominate with the red ball, the selectors may soon find that the case to keep him out of the national side is becoming as thin as his bowling spells are sharp. For Indian cricket, the dilemma is clear: do you build for the future by ignoring the present, or do you leverage a proven veteran to ensure that future is a successful one?
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