The Indian cricket team for the upcoming tour of Australia has been announced, with significant changes and omissions. The ODI and T20 squads have been revealed, and the tour will be crucial for Indian cricket as the team undergoes a transformation. Shubman Gill replaces Rohit Sharma as the ODI captain, and players like Ravindra Jadeja are also missing from the team. A notable omission from the squad is star fast bowler Mohammad Shami, leading to questions about his future.
The international career of Mohammad Shami is facing uncertainty. Shami has not been included in the Indian team selected for the Australia tour. This marks the second consecutive time that the experienced bowler has been overlooked, following his exclusion from the Test squad for the England tour. Shami has not played a Test match for India in the last two years. His last appearance in a T20 match for India was in February 2025, with his final international match being the Champions Trophy 2025 final.
Shami has been dealing with injury concerns, especially after the 2023 World Cup. He recovered and proved his fitness in domestic cricket. He was the highest wicket-taker for India in the Champions Trophy 2025 in February-March. He participated in the IPL after that. Shami, at 35, not being selected poses a significant challenge for his career.
While concerns have been raised about his fitness, Shami has stated he is ready to play. In an August interview, he confirmed he passed the fitness test and was ready to play. Despite this, he missed out on selection, indicating a difficult path ahead.
