The veteran Indian speedster Mohammed Shami has once again produced impressive performances during domestic cricket. However he is still a mystery to selectors of the national team. Shami, who is 35 years old, returned to action during the 2025 domestic season. And has been dishing out wickets on a regular basis. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) where he racked up nine wickets over five games -with a haul of four wickets during his most recent match.
However, Shami has not featured in the playing XI, or even in the team for the recent matches. The last time he played for India was in the victorious ICC Champions Trophy 2025, earlier in the year. Since then, he’s been regularly omitted even when fast bowlers of senior age were not available or rested.
These decisions have sparked a few eyebrows all over the cricketing community especially after the failure of India’s white ball matches. And prompted many to consider the reasoning behind the decision to ignore a bowler who is in good top form.
Veterans voice their concerns to the decision makers
In the spotlight, this issue was heightened after the former India spinner Harbhajan Singh publicly slammed the team’s management for an “systematic exclusion” of bowlers who are capable like Shami. In a video posted on the YouTube channel of his, Harbhajan was blunt:
“Where is Shami? I’m not sure what the reason is for Shami isn’t playing. I understand, you have Prasidh and he’s an excellent bowler however, he has many things to master. There were bowlers who were good but you’ve slowly eliminated them.”
He emphasized that without strike-bowler Jasprit Bumrah India’s bowling team becomes a shadow of itself dependent on bowlers who are inexperienced or unprepared.
Harbhajan demanded that the selectors take back Shami for the reason that India has a shortage of match-winners using the ball, particularly for limited-overs Cricket. Harbhajan also suggested that the spin-bowling team be strengthened and he suggested that spinner Varun Chakaravarthy as part of the ODI set-up.
The context is: A bowling unit that has problems in South Africa South Africa
This criticism is coming on following a disappointing second ODI match against South Africa national cricket team where India was unable to defend 359 — a score which should be more than sufficient under normal circumstances.
In the game only one bowler, Arshdeep Singh, was able take two wickets, while allowing 54 runs over the 10 balls he bowled. The other pacers such as Prasidh Krishna, and Harshit Rana were sent to the toilet by letting in 85 runs within 8.2 runs and 70 within just 10 overs, respectively.
Conditions were not perfect as heavy dew made grasping the ball virtually impossible. The ball lacked motion in the seam or swing and spin bowlers also struggled to get traction, consigning the threat to bowling from India to a meagre skiddy delivery which South Africa men easily attacked.
In these conditions Many observers such as Harbhajan believe that a skilled, battle-hardened player like Shami could have given India an opportunity to win.
Be concerned about the long-term strategy and strategy for selection
Some critics believe that India’s bowling lineup has been skewed towards young or unknown names. Thereby destroying the balance between potential and experience. Harbhajan pointed out this imbalance by calling for spinners that go that aren’t in the stock (currently only a handful of possibilities). And for experienced pacers such as Shami being considered regardless whether the attack contains top-of-the-line players like Bumrah.
It’s not the only time Shami isn’t being considered. This year Shami was not included in the Test squads that played South Africa and during the England tour. Despite taking over 15 wickets in only 3 Ranji Trophy matches for Bengal and bowling for long periods and proving fit — the selectors appeared to have reservations about his capacity to handle the pressures of test cricket.
His coach vented his frustration in public, suggesting that the selection committee was deliberately not listening to his.
India’s decision is likely to be influenced by concerns about the amount of work, their longevity as well as a possible shift towards younger players. However, with games like that with South Africa in full swing the media and fans are questioning whether these short-term projects are worth the risk as the stability and experience are there but are not being used.
What does this mean for the future?
The three-match ODI series with South Africa now poised for an end-of-the-series and the repercussions on the Indian management will be immense. Batsmen such as Virat Kohli, and Ruturaj Gaikwad racked up impressive scores to record a huge total, but only for the bowling team to surrender.
If the team is unsuccessful again If the team fails again, calls for bringing Shami back to the XI will get more fervent. There is a consensus that balanced mix of form and experienceinstead of relying on the youth or rotationcan aid in helping India to avoid similar collapses in the future.
In the long run the selectors might have to reconsider the way they assess fitness as well as team harmony, particularly in the transitional stage, where older players are preparing to leave while younger players are still figuring out their roles.
But for now the question is still unmistakably Harbhajan’s words: “Where is Shami?”