Bharat Arun: 'Mohammed Shami does not need to prove himself' for India recall
Former India bowling coach Bharat Arun told India Today on October 13, 2026, during a virtual session organised by Sony Sports Network that Mohammed Shami "does not need to prove himself" to be picked for the national side. Arun said selection should be a matter of form rather than proving past credentials.
Shami last represented India at the Champions Trophy in 2025, where he finished as one of the tournament's joint-highest wicket-takers. In the Ranji Trophy he took 37 wickets in seven appearances for Bengal at an average of 16.72 and recorded three five-wicket hauls. Despite those figures, the selection committee under Ajit Agarkar raised concerns about his fitness and match readiness; Shami has publicly maintained he is fit and ready to play. When squads were named for the New Zealand tour and the T20I series he was again overlooked, and the return of Bhuvneshwar Kumar to selection discussions intensified debate over Shami's continued absence.
Arun explicitly rejected the notion that Shami must do more to earn recall. "Well, to answer what Shami should be doing, I don't think Shami needs to prove himself. You either pick him on form or you don't. That's, that's going to be the case of Mohammed Shami. Shami does not need to prove what he can do to be picked into the Indian team. He's proved enough across all formats," he told India Today during the session.
Shami has begun the new domestic season with immediate impact, claiming four wickets in Bengal's first innings against Delhi in the latest Ranji Trophy match. That performance followed his seven-match haul of 37 wickets the previous domestic campaign and provided another data point for selectors assessing his readiness.
Arun was also asked about a suggestion from former India spinner R Ashwin that Bhuvneshwar Kumar could be included in the 2027 World Cup squad and share the bowling workload with Jasprit Bumrah. The Uttar Pradesh pacer's recent Indian Premier League record was cited in that context: he took 17 wickets for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2025 and 28 in 2026, totalling 45 wickets across the two seasons and contributing to RCB's consecutive IPL title wins.
Responding to questions on Bhuvneshwar, Arun said: "As far as Bhuvneshwar Kumar goes, I wouldn't be thinking too far ahead. Yes, he's been picked on form. He's a fantastic bowler, as everybody knows. Everyone knows what he's capable of. And it's how he fares right now that's really going to matter." He added that sustained availability would be the deciding factor for long-term plans.
Arun stressed the importance of fitness and short-term assessment when considering players for major events. "To me, it is how fit he's going to be to play continuously over the next one and a half years to be eligible for the World Cup. But right now, I would look at only things under my nose. New Zealand Tour is the biggest test, and I'd look at it, and before I decide on what we're going to do with the rest," he said.
Shami remains outside the national setup as selectors finalise plans ahead of the New Zealand tour; India's T20I series against New Zealand begins on October 22, 2026, a series Arun identified as a key immediate test for those in contention.