Mohammed Shami has not played Test cricket for India since June 2023. He wasn't picked in the squads which played the Border-Gavaskar series in Australia as well as the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy earlier this year. The right-arm seamer's last international appearance came in the 2025 Champions Trophy, where he finished as the team's joint-highest wicket-taker.
Despite picking up 15 wickets in three matches in the ongoing Ranji Trophy, the Bengal pacer wasn't selected in India's squad for the two-match Test series against South Africa.
Ahead of the first Test against the World Test Champions, Indian Test captain Shubman Gill acknowledged Shami's quality as a fast bowler but said that the performances of Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna can't be overlooked. The right-handed batter mentioned that the selectors will be in a better position to decide on Shami's comeback when India next play a Test series.