Bhuvneshwar Kumar has done it. Can Mohammed Shami script his own Indian comeback?

Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s return to the Indian T20I squad after four years has naturally brought Mohammed Shami back into the conversation. The veteran fast bowler has been out of the national team since the Champions Trophy final in March 2025, but has continued to play domestic cricket and kept himself in contention.

Bhuvneshwar was selected for the T20I series in New Zealand after the veteran pacer produced two sensational IPL seasons with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He racked up 45 goals in 30 games in 2025 and 2026, building a case that was ultimately hard to ignore.

However, Shami’s IPL record over the same period is much less convincing. He has taken 18 wickets in 22 matches with an economy rate of around 10. His stronger argument has come in domestic cricket, where he has put together a significant body of work since returning from the break at the end of 2024.

In the 2025–26 season, Shami took 37 wickets in seven Ranji Trophy matches as Bengal reached the semi-finals. He followed this with 15 wickets in seven matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and 16 in seven matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He then started the current season by taking seven wickets for East Zone as they won the Duleep Trophy, helping them win the competition for the first time in 14 years.

The difference between the two cases is also evident in the way they went bowling. Bhuvneshwar has had to find ways to reduce his lack of pace and his success with RCB has come from using swing in the power bowler and variation later in the innings.

The numbers show how effective this approach has been. In the 2025 and 2026 IPL seasons, he took 25 wickets between overs one and six and another 18 in the last five overs. His returns at these stages compared favorably with several leading fast bowlers, including Josh Hazlewood, Jofra Archer and Mohammed Siraj.

RCB assistant coach Omkar Salvi believes Bhuvneshwar’s understanding of his own game was the key.

“First of all I would like to congratulate Bhuvneshwar on his return to the Indian T20 team. It is great to see him back in the national team and it reflects the consistency and hard work he has put in over the last few years.”

“One of his biggest strengths is the clarity he has in his game. He knows what works for him and keeps things simple. He has continued to adapt to the demands of T20 cricket, be it creating chances with the new ball or using his variations in the later stages of the innings,” Salvi told PTI.

This experience has also made Bhuvneshwar a valuable figure in the RCB dressing room. He worked closely with younger fast bowlers such as Rasikh Salam, Mangesh Yadav and Abhinandan Singh, while Hazlewood also benefited from his knowledge of Indian conditions.

“He has been a great help to our younger fast bowlers at RCB with his experience. He is approachable and always willing to share his knowledge, be it reading conditions, planning against batsmen or handling pressure.

“Importantly, he encourages young people to understand and promote their own strengths, which makes him a very valuable presence in the group,” Salvi said.

Shami offers something different to India. He has experience of 64 Tests, 101 ODIs and 23 T20Is, along with a reputation built on his ability to attack with the new ball. The question is whether his domestic performances of late are enough to bring that experience back into the selectors’ plans.

Shami has made no secret of his desire to return to India. Speaking after the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai, he made it clear that his motivation hasn’t changed despite being out of the Indian set-up.

“There are plenty of reasons to stay motivated if you’re looking for them. At this level, if you’re not self-motivated, your approach is wrong. No matter what stage you’re playing, your eyes must always be set on the next level,” he said.

Bengal coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla has seen this commitment much longer than most. He knows Shami from his age group and guided him when he made his debut for Bengal. Shukla believes the fast bowler still has plenty to offer at the highest level.

“Shami is playing for Bengal this season. He is bowling like a youngster. I hope he plays for India again and ends his career playing for India. He is one of the best fast bowlers world cricket has ever produced. He deserves it,” Shukla told PTI.

For Shukla, Shami’s continuation in domestic cricket is significant in itself.

“He still wants to play for India. But apart from that, how many bowlers have you seen maintain this level of commitment to the state? I have seen him from the time he was just a bowler. He made his debut for Bengal under my captaincy.”

“He has developed into a great player and a great person. He keeps motivating everyone in the dressing room and he is our brother and I am sure he will do well this season and play for India again,” Shukla said.

Bhuvneshwar’s selection does not guarantee that Shami will get the same opportunity. Their routes have been different and India’s requirements ultimately determine whether there is room for another experienced fast bowler.

But Bhuvneshwar’s comeback was a reminder that age and time away from the national team doesn’t necessarily end the conversation. Shami has already done the difficult part of rebuilding his bowling through domestic cricket. The next step is to continue producing performances that give the selectors a reason to look at his case again.

For a lover of Shami’s experience, this is perhaps the only way back that matters: take wickets and leave the pick to others.

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