"It hurts": Mohammed Shami backed for India comeback by ex-opener

Former India opener Wasim Jaffer, in a YouTube video, said Mohammed Shami deserved to be in India’s national team after delivering back-to-back strong performances in domestic cricket across formats and tournaments. Jaffer highlighted Shami’s pace, seam movement and accuracy as qualities that India could rely on while building a multi-format pace attack. He noted that Shami has shown consistent form across domestic seasons, featuring in competitions such as the Ranji Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Indian Premier League, and has produced memorable spells in back-to-back matches. The remarks come amid ongoing discussions over pace depth for upcoming assignments, with fans and pundits calling for a broader pool of fast-bowling options. The video reflects a broader conversation about rewarding consistent performers in domestic cricket and maintaining experience within India’s bowling ranks. Supporters of Shami argue that his international exposure, coupled with current domestic form, would add value to India’s attack in varied conditions. The discussion underscores the importance of balancing form, fitness and experience when selectors assemble pace units for different formats.