Mohammed Shami says hope for India recall should always remain

Mohammed Shami said he will not give up hope of an India recall despite his continued omission from national squads. The 36-year-old pacer was not selected for India's tour of New Zealand after his last international appearance in the 2025 Champions Trophy final. Shami opted not to play for Bengal against Services in the Ranji Trophy due to the spin-friendly nature of the Palam pitch.

Shami clarified that he was fit and had bowled for one-and-a-half hours in training without issues. He said his decision to sit out was based on the pitch offering little for pace bowlers and the opportunity to give younger players match experience. Shami emphasised that he cannot play as a batter and would only feature when the team requires his bowling.

The pacer said he does not want to speculate about long-term prospects and prefers to focus on skill and fitness. He stressed that hope should always remain in any profession and that goals should be pursued without overthinking future scenarios.