The BCCI announced India's 16-member Test squad for the two-match series in New Zealand on October 16, 2026, and Mohammed Shami was not included.
Shami, who is 36 years old, has taken 229 wickets in 64 Test matches. He last played Test cricket in June 2023 and last represented India in any format during the 2025 Champions Trophy final in March 2025. Former India batters and commentators have since weighed in on the decision, with opinions divided on what the selectors' reasoning might be.
Mohammad Kaif criticised the selectors for their lack of transparency over Shami's omission, while former India opener Abhinav Mukund offered a more measured reading of the situation. On October 10, 2026, Shami himself said that Bhuvneshwar Kumar's selection did not concern him.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is also 36 years old, was recalled to India's T20I squad for the New Zealand series on October 6. Mukund pointed to this recall as evidence that the selectors are not using age as a disqualifying factor when assessing senior fast bowlers.
"India have a pool of fast bowlers they are working with. And there must be reasons for the non-selection of Mohammed Shami. I don't think age is the criteria. If age was the criteria, Bhuvneshwar Kumar wouldn't have made it back to the T20I setup. There is a reason that the CoE and the Indian team selectors have for not picking Shami in this side," Mukund told Cricinfo.
Mohammad Kaif separately criticised the selectors for not being transparent about why a bowler of Shami's record has been left out, adding to the public debate around the decision.
Who has been picked in the pace attack for the New Zealand Tests?
Pace bowlers Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep and Anshul Kamboj were recalled for the red-ball matches. Meanwhile, Gurnoor Brar, Auqib Nabi, Sarfaraz Khan and Saransh Jain, who were part of the Sri Lanka squad, were dropped.
Akash Deep's inclusion was noted given his return from injury, while Kamboj's place in the squad was seen as a continuation of the selectors' interest in him after his early appearances.
"Akash Deep is a very good selection again. Coming back from injury, he is a very good red-ball bowler. Anshul Kamboj has had a few impressive moments. And that's why I think he makes it in the ODI squad as well. And he's bowling slightly quicker than what we saw of him in that one Test alone in England. This is possibly his first full series. I don't think he'll get an opportunity. But I think it's the right selection call moving forward," Mukund added.
The two-match Test series is scheduled to begin on November 19 as the last leg of the all-format tour between the two sides.
India Test squad for New Zealand tour:
Shubman Gill (C), KL Rahul (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Anshul Kamboj, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Sai Sudharsan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj.
