- August 13, 2025
Any cricket enthusiast will be familiar with the exhilarating sight of Mohammad Shami charging in with the red ball, seam upright and wickets falling regularly. But in the 2025 Test series between England and India, there was no sign of Shami’s magic. Not because the national selectors had lost faith in him, not even because he wasn’t in form — but according to reports, he simply did not feel ready. Yep, sometimes the actual battle is not just with the bat or ball; it is mental.
The Talk Before the Tour
There have been reports that, before announcing the squad for the series against England, the selectors contacted Shami. It wasn’t just a courtesy call; they wanted to see if the veteran was prepared to face the challenge. For a man who has blown batting orders apart in World Cups & Test tours, that was a rare thing to hear.
It’s important to note that Shami hadn’t appeared in a Test match since the WTC Final last June. Since then, he hadn’t played a red-ball game due to injuries and workload management. Therefore, when you haven’t played for this long and then you are told to just jump into a five-Test grind in England, which is arguably the toughest place for the body of the visiting pacers, it is quite understandable if you are apprehensive. Confidence can wane just like rhythm when there is little match time.
Age, Fitness, and the Reality of Modern Cricket
Another point the BCCI official hinted at? Age. Shami is closing in on 35. That’s not “old” in life, but in fast-bowling years, it’s almost senior citizen territory. The board is looking at the long game—bowling resources who can stay in the mix for seven or eight years. That doesn’t mean Shami’s done, but it does mean the selectors are eyeing the likes of Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, and other younger quicks who can carry the attack deep into the next cycle.
Then, there’s the fitness element. You cannot send an unfit pacer into a Test marathon against England, given their length of batting. The last thing India would have wanted was another injury to their list with Shami. And considering the circumstances, the decision looks less like a “snub” and more like a strategic plan to preserve a valuable asset.
The Comeback Road: Duleep Trophy and Beyond
Shami’s next red-ball match is already scheduled-i.e., the 2025-26 Duleep Trophy for East Zone starting August 28. It is an excellent opportunity for him to get some overs in and to demonstrate that the flame is still burning. He only played one Ranji Trophy match for Bengal last season, so the Duleep Trophy is his first proper opportunity to have consecutive matches for the first time in two years.
If he can replicate the same accuracy and rhythm and maintain his stamina that made him one of India’s greats, there is no reason that we won’t see him in whites again. The competition for places is certainly fierce, but Shami’s record – 229 wickets in 64 Tests at an average of below 28 – does talk for itself. If we have learned one thing about him, it is that he loves it when people start doubting him.
Mohammad Shami did not miss the England series due to lost ability – that was purely about timing and match, and fitness readiness, as well as the mental side of cricket that fans do not see. Sometimes the best also need to take a break before charging into competition again.
The big question is—will Shami’s next spell in whites be a farewell tour… or the start of one last dominant chapter?
