‘Mohammed Shami is also there, in trouble’: Suresh Raina hints at return of Indian pacer

Mohammed Shami (Getty Images) Former India cricketer Suresh Raina believes Mohammed Shami could soon return to the national team following the return of his former teammate Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who earned a recall at the age of 36.Crediting Bhuvneshwar’s discipline, hard work and dedication to fitness for his return to the Indian side, Raina expressed confidence that Shami could also be back in contention after establishing himself in domestic cricket.“For him to make the Indian team at the age of 36 shows character. He was a very disciplined bowler and a very driven guy who worked really hard on his body,” Raina said at the launch of the Indian Soft Ball Cricket League jersey.Raina was equally upbeat about Shami’s prospects, pointing to his performances in domestic cricket and hinting that a return to the national team could be around the corner.“I absolutely think he (Mohammed Shami) has done well and played good domestic cricket as well. Now it’s Bhuvi’s turn, aur Shami bhi aa rahe hai piche piche, tension mat lijiye (Shami is also right behind him so don’t worry),” Raina added.Shami last featured for India during the Champions Trophy 2025, while his last appearance in Test cricket was in the final of the 2023 World Test Championship against Australia. Since then, the fast bowler has resumed playing domestic cricket and is all set to represent Bengal in their opening match of the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season.However, his recent IPL numbers have been cause for concern. Shami managed just 18 wickets in 22 matches in the 2025 and 2026 seasons, conceding runs at an economical rate of 10 per over.Bhuvneshwar, meanwhile, showed how skill and accuracy can compensate for a lack of direct pace in the shortest format. While his slight pace may seem to put him at a disadvantage, especially on flat pitches, his ability to swing the new ball and execute variations at the death has helped him remain effective.The right-arm pacer was particularly effective in the PowerPlay and death overs, claiming 25 wickets in overs 1-6 and a further 18 in overs 16-20 in the 2025 and 2026 IPL seasons.Bhuvneshwar took his game to the next level in IPL 2026 and finished as the second highest wicket-taker with 28 scalps at an economy rate of 8.07. He was one of the key figures in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s title-winning campaign and helped the franchise secure back-to-back titles.These figures put Bhuvneshwar ahead of Josh Hazlewood, Jofra Archer and Mohammed Siraj at two key stages of the innings, underscoring the value of his control and experience.His return to the Indian team also served as a reminder that sustained discipline and an understanding of the bowler’s role can open the door to international cricket. As Raina suggested, Shami could be another veteran pacer hoping for a similar comeback.