'What more can I do than keep playing and giving my best?' - Mohammed Shami on India's New Zealand tour exclusion

Mohammed Shami has been left out of India's squads for the upcoming New Zealand tour. India announced their T20I squad on October 6 and their ODI and Test squads on October 16, with Shami absent from all three. The tour begins with five T20Is starting October 22, followed by five ODIs starting November 4 and two Tests starting November 19.

Shami has not featured in international cricket since the Champions Trophy final in March 2025, and his last Test appearance came during the World Test Championship final in June 2023. According to reports, selectors and team management have raised concerns about his fitness despite his recent domestic performances, with uncertainty over whether he can sustain longer bowling spells. The selection committee, now led by Pragyan Ojha following Ajit Agarkar's departure earlier this month, has looked towards younger fast bowlers for the tour. Shami told that he remains committed to performing well in every match he plays.

"I'm always positive and focused on performing well in every match I play. I want to keep playing as many matches as possible because that helps me maintain my physical momentum, improve my game, and sharpen my skills. That's what I'm focused on right now. What more can I do than keep playing and giving my best?," Shami said.

"I'm focused entirely on my own game and don't really concern myself with what others are doing. My priority is to fulfil whatever the team and the game demand of me. I've also completely stepped away from social media, as I don't like spending too much time browsing it. Instead, I'm focusing on being on the ground, putting in the hours during practice sessions, and playing as many matches as possible this season. That's where I want to invest my time and energy," he added.

The 36-year-old pacer has delivered strong domestic performances in recent months. During the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, Shami took 37 wickets across seven matches for Bengal at an average of 16.72. He also featured in the Duleep Trophy 2026, claiming seven wickets in three matches at an average of 26.57 to help East Zone secure the title. In the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy, he has already made an impact with figures of 4 for 30 and 1 for 29 in his opening match.

Shami's IPL record over the past two seasons shows more modest returns. In IPL 2025, he took six wickets across nine matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad, while in IPL 2026 he claimed 12 wickets in 13 matches for Lucknow Super Giants. His focus now remains on the domestic season and maintaining his competitive edge.

With age likely to be a talking point ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, Shami remains focused on keeping himself competitive through consistent performances and a full domestic season. The senior pacer, who will be 37 by the time of the tournament, said he is giving his best and leaving the rest to God. Shami also said playing the entire domestic season would be important for his development as he continues to work towards a possible return to international cricket.

"I'm trying my best and giving it everything I have. Beyond that, what happens and what doesn't is in God's hands. For now, it's very important for me to play the entire domestic season, as it will help me work on my skills, improve my game, and stay prepared for whatever lies ahead," Shami said.