Mohammed Shami says missing out on another India call would not be his loss. He said it in Kalyani on the eve of Bengal’s Ranji Trophy opener against Delhi.
The question came days after India recalled Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the five-match T20I series in New Zealand. The squad was named on 6 October. Bhuvneshwar last played a T20I for India in November 2022.
“Bhuvneshwar Kumar got the chance to play for India, and that’s good for him. But his selection doesn’t concern me. Wherever I get the chance to play, I will give my best. Right now, my focus is firmly on this Ranji match.”
Mohammed Shami, speaking to RevSportz in Kalyani, 10 October 2026
India’s ODI and Test squads for the New Zealand tour are still to be named. That is why the Shami question is live right now.
Asked whether Bhuvneshwar’s return gave him hope, Shami said this was nothing new. “The same thing has been happening with me for the last two or three years,” he said. Then came the core of his message: he has performed for Bengal and proved his fitness there.
In October 2025, Shami said he would not be playing if he were not fit. Ajit Agarkar, then chief selector, answered that Shami’s return depended on him staying fit. A year later, Shami is still waiting.
Mohammed Shami sends a strong message amid questions over his India comeback, stating that he has proved his fitness for Bengal and that missing out on another India opportunity would not be his loss.
#MohammedShami #India #INDvsNZ #Cricket https://t.co/GicgDd6PwA
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) October 10, 2026
Most will read “not my loss” as a dig at the selectors. It is closer to something a fast bowler does for himself the night before a match.
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A fast bowler waiting on a selection call carries it into every spell. You notice who is in the stands. You bowl the extra over in case someone is watching. That weight comes out of your legs, and at 36 your legs have nothing spare.
“Not my loss” hands the decision back to the people who own it. The line is aimed at the Delhi game in Kalyani, not at the selection committee. Shami needs to run in thinking only about the batter in front of him. Every senior quick learns this late: you cannot bowl for a phone call.
Do Shami’s Numbers Back His Claim?
On volume, yes. Shami played all three domestic competitions for Bengal in 2025-26 and took 67 wickets.
| Competition (2025-26) | Matches | Wickets |
|---|---|---|
| Ranji Trophy | 7 | 36 (three five-wicket hauls) |
| Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy | 7 | 16 at 14.93 |
| Vijay Hazare Trophy | 7 | 15 at 24.53 |
His best came in the Ranji semi-final against Jammu and Kashmir in Kalyani. He took 8/90, the best innings figures of his career. Bengal still lost, and J&K reached their first Ranji final behind Auqib Nabi.
Six months later, India needed a replacement for the injured Jasprit Bumrah in the Sri Lanka Tests. They picked Auqib Nabi, not Shami.
Shami’s last Test was the 2023 World Test Championship final at The Oval. His last ODI was the 2025 Champions Trophy final, a tournament where he took nine wickets in five matches, joint most of anyone.
The ODI and Test squads for New Zealand will be picked by the committee under interim chief selector Pragyan Ojha. India assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak said on 8 October that Shami’s selection is the selectors’ call, and that Shami “is also doing well” in domestic cricket.
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