Mohammed Shami is not playing currently primarily due to a combination of fitness concerns and poor recent form. He was left out of India's squad for the 2025 Asia Cup and the Test series against England because he was not deemed fit enough to endure the demands of international cricket, particularly red-ball cricket. Shami had undergone ankle surgery in 2024 and also faced a knee injury, which delayed his full recovery. The BCCI's medical team assessed that his body was not yet ready for the workload required, especially for long spells in Test matches. Additionally, Shami had an underwhelming IPL 2025 season, taking only six wickets in nine games with an expensive economy rate of 11.23, which affected his chances of selection. He has expressed frustration at his non-selection for the Asia Cup despite being named for the Duleep Trophy, questioning the fitness criteria since he believes that if he is fit enough for the Duleep Trophy, he should be fit for T20 cricket as well. In summary, Shami's absence is due to a mix of fitness setbacks, injury recovery, and recent lackluster performance , which led the selectors to opt for other bowlers. However, he remains active in domestic cricket and is hopeful of making a comeback once fully fit.
