Veteran Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has once again found himself in the headlines, this time not for his bowling but for his omission from the Asia Cup 2025 squad. While India named a strong team led by Jasprit Bumrah in the pace department, Shami’s absence raised eyebrows. The senior fast bowler, who has represented India across all formats for over a decade, admitted that he was surprised to be left out, especially when he is set to participate in the Duleep Trophy starting Thursday.
Omission From Asia Cup 2025
The selection committee announced India’s 15-member squad for the continental tournament, including three frontline fast bowlers along with two spinners. To the surprise of many, Shami was not considered, neither in the main squad nor in the list of reserves. This decision comes just months after the 35-year-old made a short-lived return to the T20I setup during the home series against England earlier this year.
Shami’s return to T20 internationals had ended a three-year wait. His last appearance in the shortest format before that was during the 2022 T20 World Cup. On his comeback, he went wicketless in Rajkot but showed glimpses of his old self by claiming three wickets in the Wankhede match against England.
Struggles in IPL 2025
One of the major reasons behind his non-selection is believed to be his underwhelming performance in the IPL 2025. Representing Sunrisers Hyderabad, Shami could manage only six wickets in nine matches, while conceding runs at an alarming economy rate of 11.23. The poor returns saw him being benched for a few games, something quite unusual for a bowler of his experience.
His dip in form sparked concerns about whether he could still deliver in high-pressure T20 matches. Critics pointed out that while Shami has been a proven match-winner in Tests and ODIs, his effectiveness in the T20 format has reduced with age and injuries.
Questions Over Fitness
Adding to the doubts were the reports about his fitness. Shami was left out of the Test series against England earlier this year, reportedly due to injury concerns. However, the bowler has now clarified that he is match-fit and ready for competitive cricket. He revealed that he had successfully cleared the Bronco fitness test at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru before being cleared for the Duleep Trophy.
This revelation gave rise to a natural question: if Shami is fit enough for the Duleep Trophy, which is four-day and five-day red-ball cricket, why can’t he be considered fit for T20s?
Shami’s Response to Non-Selection
Speaking to News24 Sports, Shami maintained a balanced tone, stating that he respects the selectors’ decision but expressed his surprise at the reasoning behind it.
Fading Hopes of India Comeback
The 35-year-old pacer also admitted that he doesn’t keep much hope of making a return to the Indian side. With younger bowlers like Arshdeep Singh and Mukesh Kumar getting more opportunities in white-ball cricket, Shami feels the chances are slim.
What Lies Ahead for Shami?
For now, Shami’s focus is firmly on the Duleep Trophy, where he will be keen to showcase his fitness and form. With the home Test series against West Indies scheduled later this year, strong performances in the domestic tournament could open a door for him in red-ball cricket, if not in T20s.
While the Asia Cup snub may have come as a setback, Shami’s experience and ability to deliver with the new ball still make him a valuable option in Indian cricket. His immediate challenge will be to silence doubts over his fitness and form by letting his performances speak louder than words.