Mohammed Shami's chances of returning to the Indian team have taken another hit. Former India wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik has said the team has already moved in a different direction and there is no point in going back to the experienced fast bowler.
Shami has not played for India since 2025. Injuries, fitness concerns and selection decisions have kept him away from the national setup. Even though he keeps performing well in domestic cricket, a comeback to international cricket looks harder with each passing series.
Dinesh Karthik on Mohammed Shami's India Comeback
Karthik, who now works as a cricket pundit, believes India's pace department already has enough options. In his view, the team has made its choice and there is little reason to revisit it.
His message was simple — India have moved forward, and going back to Shami does not fit the current plan. This is not a comment on Shami's ability. It is a comment on where the team stands right now.
The former wicketkeeper's view carries weight because he has been part of Indian dressing rooms and understands how selection calls are made. His blunt take reflects what many in Indian cricket seem to think — the pace attack has moved on.
Why Shami's Comeback Is Getting Harder
There are a few clear reasons why Shami's return is looking difficult:
- He has not featured for India since 2025, which means a long gap at the international level
- Injuries and fitness concerns have kept him out of the national setup
- Selection decisions have gone in favour of other bowlers
- India's pace department already has enough alternatives, according to Karthik
- His strong domestic performances have not been enough to force a recall
This is the key point. Shami is still bowling well in domestic cricket. But domestic form alone is not opening the door back into the Indian team. The selectors and the team management appear to have settled on a different group of fast bowlers.
What This Means for Shami
For a bowler who has served India for years, this is a tough phase. Karthik's words make it clear that the door is not just closed — the team has walked away from it entirely.
Shami can keep taking wickets in domestic cricket. He can keep proving his fitness. But if the team has already decided its direction, individual performances may not change the outcome.
Our Take: India Have Moved On, and That Is the Reality
To put it plainly, Karthik is saying out loud what the selection pattern has already shown. India have not picked Shami since 2025, and that is not a coincidence. It is a decision.
In our view, the harsh truth is that international sport does not wait. India's pace attack has new names, new plans and a new direction. Karthik is right that there is little logic in going back when the team has already invested in what comes next.
That said, Shami deserves respect for continuing to perform in domestic cricket. He has not given up. But effort alone does not guarantee a recall. The team's needs have changed, and Karthik's blunt take simply reflects that reality.
For readers, the takeaway is simple. Shami's India comeback is not a matter of form anymore. It is a matter of whether the team wants him back at all. And right now, the answer from within the setup appears to be no.
