India’s veteran pacer Mohammed Shami is facing uncertainty ahead of the highly anticipated five-Test series against England, set to begin on June 20, 2025. With fitness issues still looming, Shami is reportedly not an automatic pick for the upcoming England tour.
Mohammed Shami’s Struggles With Run-Up and Form
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A recent Times of India report indicates a disturbing follow-up: Mohammed Shami finds it difficult to finish his run-up, and the ball is not traveling to the wicketkeeper with the same zip as before. These are indicators that Shami has not fully recovered from the Achilles tendon injury he suffered during the 2023 ODI World Cup.
It has been months since Shami was back in international cricket, but he’s hardly found his stride,” a BCCI official revealed to TOI. “He walks back to the dressing room after brief spells and is visibly not fully himself.”
Selection Committee Faces Dilemma
Ajit Agarkar-headed selection committee is yet to decide on the Indian team for the England Test series. Rohit Sharma has retired, and Virat Kohli has walked away from Test cricket, leaving the selectors with many uncertainties.
Shami, once a reliable strike bowler, is no longer guaranteed a spot. The original plan was to rotate Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami to ensure at least one of them featured in every Test. But with Shami’s ongoing struggles, that strategy now faces a serious risk.
Disappointing IPL 2025 Campaign for Mohammed Shami
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In IPL 2025, Mohammed Shami played for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) but did not impress. He took just 6 wickets in 9 games at a dismal average of 56.16, further raising questions about his fitness and form.
Shami missed a few matches and was visibly out of rhythm in the games he did play. His lackluster performance in the IPL only adds to the BCCI’s concerns ahead of the England tour.
Mixed Bag on International Comeback
Before the IPL, Shami resumed India’s T20I team for the England series this year. He remained wicketless in his initial match but struck back with three wickets against the Wankhede Stadium.
Shami showed hints of his form during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where he finished as the joint second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 9 wickets in 5 matches. He also achieved a memorable five-wicket match haul against Bangladesh.
Shami’s Track Record in England
Regardless of his experience, the numbers reflect Mohammed Shami’s underwhelming Test record in England. In 14 Test matches in England, he has taken 42 wickets at an average of 40.50. He still hasn’t taken a five-wicket haul in England.
This statistic makes his inclusion in the playing XI much harder when he is being assessed on form and fitness.
Squad Announcement Imminent
The Indian Test squad for the tour of England is likely to be announced on May 16 anyway. Now that Mohammed Shami’s fitness is in question, everyone will be interested to see what the selections do. The team management will also have to announce a new captain after the retirement of the big guns.
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