Mohammed Shami eyes India comeback as Ranji Trophy season begins

As the Ranji Trophy season commences, 36-year-old pacer Mohammed Shami faces a defining period in his career. Having been sidelined by selectors for the past two years, reportedly due to concerns regarding his age and knee condition, the upcoming domestic fixtures may serve as a final opportunity for the bowler to demonstrate he is back to peak performance.Shami’s path to an international return has been complicated by persistent fitness debates. His last appearance in One Day International cricket was in March 2025, while his last Test match dates back to the World Test Championship final in June 2023. Despite his efforts, including taking 47 wickets across 16 matches for Bengal in the 2025 season—and recording career-best first-class figures of 8 for 90 during a Ranji semifinal against Jammu and Kashmir—a recall has remained elusive. Former chief selector Ajit Agarkar previously noted that fitness questions hampered his selection, a claim Shami countered by pointing to his successful participation in four-day matches.However, recent developments have offered a glimmer of hope. The inclusion of 36-year-old Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the T20I squad for the upcoming New Zealand tour suggests that age is no longer an automatic barrier to selection. Furthermore, a change in leadership within the selection committee, with Pragyan Ojha now serving as interim chairman, may indicate a shift in strategy compared to the panel led by Agarkar.While Shami’s recent form in the 2026 IPL, where he claimed 10 wickets in 12 matches, and his performance in the Duleep Trophy have been mixed, he remains capable of delivering challenging spells. Although he may no longer consistently reach speeds of 140 kph, his ability to hit the deck hard and trouble batters remains a key asset. Whether this upcoming domestic season provides enough evidence to convince the new selection panel remains to be seen.