Bhuvneshwar Kumar did it. Can Mohammed Shami script his own India comeback?

Bhuvneshwar Kumar's return to the India T20I squad after four years has naturally brought Mohammed Shami back into the conversation. The veteran fast bowler has been away from the national side since the Champions Trophy final in March 2025, but he has continued to play domestic cricket and keep himself in contention.

Bhuvneshwar was selected for the T20I series in New Zealand after the experienced pacer produced two sensational IPL seasons with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He picked up 45 wickets in 30 matches across 2025 and 2026, building a case that eventually became difficult to ignore.

However, Shami's IPL record over the same period is far less convincing. He has taken 18 wickets in 22 matches, with an economy rate of around 10. His stronger argument has come in domestic cricket, where he has put together a substantial amount of work since returning from his injury lay-off in late 2024.

In the 2025-26 season, Shami claimed 37 wickets in seven Ranji Trophy matches as Bengal reached the semi-finals. He followed that with 15 wickets in seven Vijay Hazare Trophy matches and 16 in seven Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy games. He then began the current season by taking seven wickets for East Zone in their Duleep Trophy victory, helping them win the competition for the first time in 14 years.

The difference between the two cases is also evident in the way they have gone about their bowling. Bhuvneshwar has had to find ways of making his lack of pace less of a factor, and his success with RCB has come from using swing in the Powerplay and variations later in the innings.

The numbers show how effective that approach has been. He took 25 wickets between overs one and six across the 2025 and 2026 IPL seasons and another 18 in the final five overs. His returns in those phases compared favourably with several leading fast bowlers, including Josh Hazlewood, Jofra Archer and Mohammed Siraj.

RCB assistant coach Omkar Salvi believes the key has been Bhuvneshwar's understanding of his own game.

"First of all, I'd like to congratulate Bhuvneshwar on his comeback to the Indian T20 team. It's great to see him back in the national team, and it reflects the consistency and hard work he has put in over the last couple of years.

"One of his biggest strengths is the clarity he has about his game. He knows what works for him and keeps things simple. He has continued to adapt to the demands of T20 cricket, whether it's creating chances with the new ball or using his variations in the later stages of an innings," Salvi told PTI.

That experience has also made Bhuvneshwar a valuable figure within the RCB dressing room. He has worked closely with younger fast bowlers such as Rasikh Salam, Mangesh Yadav and Abhinandan Singh, while Hazlewood has also benefited from his knowledge of Indian conditions.

"He has been a huge help to our younger fast bowlers at RCB with his experience. He is approachable and always willing to share his knowledge, whether it's about reading conditions, planning against batters or handling pressure.

"Importantly, he encourages the youngsters to understand and back their own strengths, which makes him a very valuable presence in the group," Salvi said.

Shami offers India something different. He has the experience of 64 Tests, 101 ODIs and 23 T20Is, along with a reputation built on his ability to attack with the new ball. The question is whether his recent domestic performances are enough to put that experience back into the selectors' plans.

Shami has not hidden his desire for an India comeback. Speaking after the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai, he made it clear that his motivation has not changed despite being away from the India setup.

"There are plenty of reasons to stay motivated if you look for them. At this level, if you aren't self-motivated, your approach is wrong. No matter what stage you're playing at, your eyes must always be set on the next level," he said.

Bengal coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla has seen that commitment for much longer than most. He has known Shami since his age-group days and captained him when he made his Bengal debut. Shukla believes the fast bowler still has enough to offer at the highest level.

"Shami is playing for Bengal this season. He's bowling like a youngster. I hope that he will again play for India and end his career playing for India. He is one of the greatest fast bowlers ever world cricket produced. He deserves that," Shukla told PTI.

For Shukla, Shami's continued involvement in domestic cricket is significant in itself.

"He still wants to play for India. But other than that, how many bowlers have you seen maintaining this level of commitment to the state? I have seen him from a time when he was just a net bowler. He made Bengal debut under my captaincy.

"He has developed into a great player and a great human being. He keeps motivating everyone in the dressing room, and he is our brother, and I am sure he will be doing well this season and go on to play for India again," Shukla said.

Bhuvneshwar's selection does not guarantee that Shami will get the same opportunity. Their routes have been different, and India's requirements will ultimately determine whether there is room for another experienced fast bowler.

What Bhuvneshwar's comeback has done, though, is provide a reminder that age and time away from the national team do not necessarily end the conversation. Shami has already done the difficult part of rebuilding his bowling through domestic cricket. The next step is to keep producing performances that give the selectors a reason to revisit his case.

For a bowler of Shami's experience, that is perhaps the only route back that matters: keep taking wickets and leave the selection call to others.

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