Despite returning to competitive action after recovering from injury and remaining active in domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League 2026, Shami was not included in either the ODI or Test squads for the Afghanistan series. During the press conference held on May 19 following the team announcement, Agarkar confirmed that Shami’s name was not even discussed for the longer format.
Agarkar stated that, according to the information available to him, Shami’s body currently supports only Twenty20 cricket. He said, “We have been told that at this point his body is allowing him to play… but according to the information I have received, he is currently ready only for Twenty20 cricket. Therefore, there was no discussion about him.”
Shami last represented India in March 2025 during the Champions Trophy and has since disappeared from the national team framework. In the Indian Premier League 2026, he played 12 matches for Lucknow Super Giants, taking 10 wickets. In the domestic season, representing Bengal, he delivered an impressive performance with a total of 37 wickets, including 7 wickets in the Ranji Trophy.
The primary reason behind Shami’s continued absence is understood to be workload management and long-term fitness planning. Following surgery on his ankle and Achilles tendon, the Indian team management has exercised extreme caution regarding his return to international cricket. Even after a successful domestic comeback, doubts persist within the setup over whether his body can consistently withstand the physical demands of Test and ODI cricket.
Shami’s prolonged exclusion highlights growing uncertainty surrounding his role in India’s future across formats, as selectors appear to be increasingly focusing on long-term fitness sustainability and squad transition strategies.
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