Mohammed Shami doesn’t need to prove himself, he has done enough: Bharat Arun

What does Mohammed Shami have to do to win his place back in the Indian team? Since 2025, the question has resurfaced almost every time the selectors meet to pick a team for an upcoming series or tour. And despite his performances, the answer remains elusive.

The Indian pacer last represented the national team at the Champions Trophy in 2025 where he finished as one of the highest wicket takers in the tournament. However, strong showings on the international stage and impressive performances in domestic cricket were not enough to secure his return.

Shami made a convincing case for himself in the Ranji Trophy, taking 37 wickets at an average of 16.72 in seven matches for Bengal. He also registered three five-wicket hauls, underscoring his ability to consistently deliver red-ball cricket.

Despite these numbers, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee remained unconvinced and questions about the pacer’s fitness and match-readiness persisted. However, Shami played down these concerns and claimed that he is fit and ready to perform.

The change in selection management didn’t change his fortunes much. When the squads for the tour of New Zealand and the T20I series were announced, Shami was once again overlooked. This time, however, everyone was interested in the return of another experienced campaign.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar was back in the selection conversation.

As the Uttar Pradesh pacer returned to the national set-up, the debate over Shami’s continued absence gained momentum. What else does he have to do to earn a recall?

Former India bowling coach Bharat Arun believes the answer is simple: nothing.

In an exclusive interaction with India Today, during a virtual meet organized by Sony Sports Network, Arun backed Shami’s credentials and claimed that the pacer’s international record should speak for itself.

“Well, to answer what Shami should do, I don’t think Shami needs to prove himself. Either you pick him in form or not. That will be the case with Mohammed Shami. Shami doesn’t need to prove what he can do to get picked in the Indian team. He has proven enough across all formats,” Arun said when asked by India Today.

Shami wasted no time in the new domestic season either. He started the latest Ranji Trophy campaign with four wickets in Bengal’s first innings against Delhiproviding another reminder of what it has to offer.

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BHUVI’S FITNESS THE BIG QUESTION

As Shami continues to wait for his opportunity, Bhuvneshwar’s return has opened up another debate: could the veteran swing bowler feature in India’s plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup?

During the interaction, Arun was asked about the former Indian spinner R Ashwin’s suggestion that Bhuvneshwar could be part of the World Cup squad and share the bowling work with Jasprit Bumrah.

Bhuvneshwar’s recent IPL record certainly strengthens his argument. The 36-year-old took 17 wickets for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2025 before adding 28 more in the 2026 season. His 45 wickets in both campaigns played a significant role in RCB’s back-to-back IPL title wins, proving that he continues to be a force in T20 cricket.

However, Arun believes it would be premature to look too far ahead. Bhuvneshwar’s immediate performances and ability to stay fit for a longer period of time will determine whether he can stay in the World Cup contention.

“As far as Bhuvneshwar Kumar is concerned, I wouldn’t think too far ahead. Yes, he has been picked on form. He is a fantastic bowler, as everyone knows. Everyone knows what he is capable of. And how he performs right now will really matter.”

Arun stressed that the biggest challenge would be to ensure that Bhuvneshwar remains fit and available during the demanding period leading up to the 2027 FIFA World Cup. Rather than getting bogged down in long-term projections, he believes India should immediately focus on the upcoming tour of New Zealand.

“For me, it’s what kind of form he’s going to play continuously over the next year and a half to go to the World Cup. But right now, I’d just look at the things under my nose. The New Zealand tour is the biggest test and I’d look at that before I decide what we’re going to do with the rest,” Arun said.

India vs New Zealand T20I series starts on October 22.

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