The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the Test squad for the two-match home series against South Africa, and notably, veteran fast bowler Mohammed Shami was left out yet again. His name was also missing from the India A squad scheduled for a parallel series against South Africa A. This latest snub paints a grim picture for the 35-year-old, whose international career now appears to be winding down.

Shami last played a Test match in 2023 during the World Test Championship final against Australia. Following a long injury layoff after the 2023 ODI World Cup, he returned to international cricket in early 2025 but was omitted from the England tour due to fitness concerns. Despite strong recent performances in domestic cricket—taking more than 15 wickets in three Ranji Trophy matches for Bengal, including a five-wicket haul against Gujarat—Shami has not been able to convince selectors that his body can endure the demands of Test cricket.

Critics and experts attribute his exclusion partly to inconsistent performances in the IPL 2025 season, where he struggled with pace and consistency, and ongoing debates between Shami and chief selector Ajit Agarkar over his fitness. While Shami maintains he is fit enough to compete, selectors appear to favor younger pacers like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, and Prasidh Krishna for the longest format.

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With Rishabh Pant making a much-anticipated return to the Test squad as vice-captain, India's pace attack for the South Africa Tests will be led by Bumrah and Siraj, alongside Akash Deep, who has recently recovered from injury. The spin department comprises established names like Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Washington Sundar.

Shami’s omission from both senior and India A squads may indicate a transition phase in Indian Test cricket, signaling that the management is moving on from one of its most successful modern-day fast bowlers, despite his valiant domestic comeback efforts. Whether this marks the end of his international journey or a temporary setback remains to be seen.

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