Mohammed Shami For India vs New Zealand Tests: Why BCCI May Dismiss The Idea

Mohammed Shami's comeback for IND vs NZ Tests could be dismissed [Source- AFP]Mohammed Shami has once again grabbed the limelight, courtesy of his spirited bowling performance in the Duleep Trophy 2026 final. The seasoned campaigner made the most of his experience on a placid deck at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Despite getting little assistance off the pitch, Shami played a crucial role in restricting South Zone to a modest score of 336 runs after East Zone posted a massive total of 708 runs in the first innings. Mohammed Shami got the ball to reverse and trapped the well-set Shaik Rasheed plumb in front of the stumps before dismissing Smaran Ravichandran to derail the South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final. Mohammed Shami makes a compelling case for Test comeback in IND vs NZ seriesShami has bowled 62 overs, the second-most among the ten highest wicket-takers in the Duleep Trophy 2026, scalping seven wickets. Although the BCCI selection committee discarded Shami from India's scheme of things, citing fitness concerns, the fast bowler has exhibited commendable endurance and rhythm at the age of 36. CriterionSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableDataSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableInningsSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table20SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableWicketsSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table45SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableAverageSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table20.91SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableStrike RateSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table43.2SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table(Mohammed Shami's numbers in First-Class cricket since Team India ouster)As evidenced by the above stats, Mohammed Shami has bagged 45 wickets at a magnificent average of 20.91 and a strike rate of 43.2 in First-Class cricket since being excluded from the Indian setup. Also Read: Former India Coach Directly Clashes With BCCI Over Mohammed Shami SnubWhile Shami's form, improved fitness and experience vouch for his inclusion in the India Test squad vs New Zealand, his record in the Oceanian country suggests otherwise. Mohammed Shami's record in New Zealand highlights his struggle in the country CriterionSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableDataSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableInningsSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table7SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableWicketsSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table15SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableAverageSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table35.6SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableStrike RateSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table59.6SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table (Mohammed Shami's Test record in New Zealand)Mohammed Shami has played 4 Tests in New Zealand, scalping 15 wickets across seven innings. He has conceded 35.6 runs per wicket while bowling almost ten overs for each scalp. These numbers suggest Shami hasn't quite enjoyed bowling in New Zealand as far as Test cricket is concerned. An average of 35.6 is Shami's second-worst among all countries that he has played Tests in, only behind England, where he averages 40.50 with the ball. The ace speedster relies on hitting the seam and generating movement off the deck. Therefore, he has incredible numbers in South Africa (35 wickets in 8 Tests, average- 23.23, Strike Rate- 44.66) and West Indies (20 wickets in 6 Tests, average- 22.20, strike rate- 43.20), where fast bowlers get prodigious seam movement as well as disconcerting bounce. The same attribute has worked in Shami's favour in Australia, where he has 32 wickets at a healthy strike rate of 54.23. But when it comes to England and New Zealand, where the fast bowlers are required to pitch the ball up and generate swing, Mohammed Shami has beaten the bat quite often instead of forcing the batters into mistakes because of a relatively shorter natural length. This has resulted in his lean patch in England and New Zealand, and his combined average of 39.21 in England and New Zealand is the second-highest among Indian bowlers with at least 50 wickets across the two countries.Is New Zealand ideal for Mohammed Shami's Test comeback? BCCI may not think soThe aforementioned facts suggest that New Zealand hasn't been a happy-hunting venue for Mohammed Shami in Test cricket. He is 36, and the BCCI appears to be preparing for a transition in India's fast-bowling unit, with younger pacers like Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar increasingly being brought into the Test setup. The fact that none of India's existing pacers, barring Jasprit Bumrah, have played Test cricket in New Zealand may be interpreted as a valid reason to recall Shami for the two-match series. But the BCCI feels the ship has sailed, which is why it has omitted Shami from the India-A squad for a riveting red-ball series against their Australian counterparts. Therefore, despite India being in a must-win situation to keep their WTC final hopes alive, the BCCI may not look back at a 36-year-old Mohammed Shami, whose Test record in New Zealand further weakens the argument for his comeback. Also Read: 3 India A Players Who Could Trigger Rohit Sharma Replacement Debate Immediately