Mohammed Shami next? Suresh Raina drops big hint after Bhuvneshwar Kumar's India comeback

Former India cricketer Suresh Raina has hinted that Mohammed Shami could be in line for a return to the national team, citing the fast bowler's domestic performances and drawing parallels with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has earned an India recall at the age of 36.

Speaking at the jersey launch of the Indian Soft Ball Cricket League, as reported by TOI, Raina expressed confidence in Shami's prospects, suggesting that the experienced pacer could follow Bhuvneshwar back into the Indian setup.

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“Absolutely, I think he (Mohammed Shami) has done well and played good domestic cricket too. Now it is Bhuvi’s turn, aur Shami bhi aa rahe hai piche piche, tension mat lijiye (Shami is also right behind him, so don’t worry)," Raina said.

Raina also praised Bhuvneshwar's commitment to fitness and discipline, crediting his work ethic for helping him return to international cricket.

“Making it to the Indian team at the age of 36 shows character. He has been a very disciplined bowler and a very process-driven guy who has worked really hard on his body," he said.

Shami has not represented India since the 2025 Champions Trophy, while his last Test appearance came against Australia in the 2023 World Test Championship final.

The fast bowler has continued to feature in domestic cricket and is set to play for Bengal in their opening match of the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season.

However, Shami's recent Indian Premier League (IPL) performances have been less impressive. Across the 2025 and 2026 seasons, he picked up 18 wickets in 22 matches while conceding runs at an economy rate of 10 per over.

Bhuvneshwar, meanwhile, has strengthened his case for an international comeback through consistent IPL performances, particularly with the new ball and in the death overs.

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Across the 2025 and 2026 IPL seasons, the right-arm pacer claimed 25 wickets in the PowerPlay overs (1-6) and another 18 wickets during the death overs (16-20), demonstrating his effectiveness in two crucial phases of T20 cricket.

His IPL 2026 campaign was particularly productive. Bhuvneshwar finished as the tournament's second-highest wicket-taker with 28 wickets at an economy rate of 8.07, playing an important role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru's title-winning campaign as the franchise secured consecutive IPL titles.

His ability to swing the new ball, maintain control and use variations in the closing overs has helped him remain effective despite not relying on express pace.

Bhuvneshwar's performances in the PowerPlay and death overs also placed him ahead of established pacers such as Josh Hazlewood, Jofra Archer and Mohammed Siraj in those phases across the two seasons.

While Bhuvneshwar has secured another opportunity with India, Raina believes Shami's domestic performances could keep him in contention for a similar return. However, there has been no official confirmation of Shami's recall.

With inputs from TOI