Rishi Dhawan, the 36-year-old former India cricketer, has backed Mohammed Shami for a return to the Indian team. Dhawan highlighted Shami’s recent domestic performances and his commitment to playing full seasons as reasons why the selectors should consider bringing him back into the squad.
Dhawan praised Shami’s work ethic and consistency in whatever domestic cricket he has been playing. He emphasised that Shami is not playing sporadic matches but rather completing full seasons and delivering strong performances throughout.
Dhawan’s comments come at a time when India is preparing for an upcoming multi-format series against New Zealand. The former all-rounder’s endorsement reflects confidence in Shami’s ability to contribute at the international level despite his recent absence from the squad. With Bhuvneshwar Kumar making a comeback to international cricket after four years for the T20I series against the Kiwis, fans believe that Shami could be next in line to earn an India recall.
“Yes, absolutely. In whatever domestic cricket he is playing, he is putting in immense hard work. We can see that he is playing full seasons–it’s not like he plays one match and rests the next,” Dhawan was quoted as saying by NDTV Sports.
“He is playing complete seasons and delivering strong performances. Hopefully, the selectors will recognise the need for an experienced, fit fast bowler like him. We would definitely love to see him back in the Indian team,” he added.
Shami, who is also 36 years old, last represented India in March 2025 during the Champions Trophy. His most recent ODI appearance came on March 9, 2025, against New Zealand, while his last T20I was on February 2, 2025, against England. His last Test match was played on June 7, 2023, against Australia.
Rishi Dhawan hails Jasprit Bumrah as the best fast bowler in modern-day cricket
Rishi Dhawan mentioned Jasprit Bumrah as the best pacer in modern-day cricket, highlighting his consistent performances across formats
“Jasprit Bumrah, because if you see, his performance in every format remains consistently top-notch. He changes and adapts himself exceptionally well, and his performances are always at the highest level. When he is in the side, we don’t have to worry about anything–knowing Jasprit still has two overs left gives the confidence that we can comfortably win the match,” Dhawan said.
The former Himachal Pradesh captain called Bumrah a complete bowler because of his ability to adjust to the different formats of the game.
“He (Bumrah) adapts really well and has put in immense work into his craft. If you look at T20s, his variations are remarkable; and when he plays Test matches, he swings the ball both ways while hitting great areas consistently. Because of this, I consider him a complete bowler,” he added.
