Gautam Gambhir reported to oppose Mohammed Shami's India recall ahead of West Indies and New Zealand tours
CricBlogger reported on October 10, 2026 that head coach Gautam Gambhir is opposed to Mohammed Shami’s return to the India squad as the team prepares for a home series against West Indies and a subsequent away multi-format tour of New Zealand that begins with a five-match T20I series.
India have announced a strong squad for the upcoming fixtures, and both teams have confirmed their selections for the New Zealand tour. The most notable inclusion in India’s list is the return of veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is 36 years old and last played for India in a T20 international in November 2022; after four years he will again wear the Indian jersey at the international level. Bhuvneshwar’s comeback has fuelled hopes among supporters for Mohammed Shami’s reinstatement.
Mohammed Shami has been described in the report as one of India’s leading wicket-takers and a match-winner across all formats, but he has been sidelined for the last 2-3 years. Shami last represented India in March 2025 and has not been selected since then; his most recent international appearance came in the final of Champions Trophy 2025. His career figures in the report list 64 Tests, 108 ODIs and 25 T20Is, with 229, 206 and 27 wickets respectively.
The piece notes Shami is India’s leading wicket-taker in the ODI World Cup and says his experience could be valuable with the 2027 World Cup one year away. The report adds that young Indian bowlers have failed to impress and that the management has tried several pacers without consistent returns, framing Shami as a potentially useful option.
According to CricBlogger, the selectors are inclined to bring Shami back but face resistance from the current management. The report quotes: "With the selectors fully convinced about Shami’s fitness and commitment following the last domestic season, Gambhir may still not be entirely convinced. It is often suggested that Shami himself is aware that his absence from the team stems from Gambhir’s doubts about his fitness levels." It also states that ODI captain Shubman Gill is not ready for Shami’s return.
The difference of opinion between the selectors and the coaching group is cited in the report as the key reason for Shami’s omission, with the head coach described as being against him; despite that uncertainty the article emphasises Shami’s records in Tests and ODI World Cups. Teams have already announced squads for the five-match T20I series that opens the New Zealand tour, leaving Shami’s immediate recall unresolved ahead of those fixtures.