Team India is set to take on New Zealand in its first international assignment of the new year, with the ODI series beginning on January 11. The Indian squad for this series will be announced on Saturday, January 3, after an online meeting of the selection committee chaired by Ajit Agarkar.

While this ODI series may not carry massive importance in the larger scheme—given the approaching T20 World Cup—it could prove decisive for the future of several players. One of the biggest names at the centre of attention is Mohammed Shami. All signs now point towards his long-awaited return to Team India.

Selection meeting and early indications

The selectors are expected to announce the squad through the official channels of BCCI. Reports suggest that Rishabh Pant may be left out, while senior players like Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah are likely to be rested to manage workload ahead of the T20 series and the T20 World Cup.

Amid these developments, Shami’s name has suddenly gained strong momentum.

Shami vs Agarkar: a long-running debate

Mohammed Shami has been out of Team India since last year’s Champions Trophy. During this period, questions over his fitness repeatedly surfaced. These concerns even led to a public back-and-forth between Shami and chief selector Ajit Agarkar, with Agarkar questioning Shami’s readiness and the pacer responding not with words, but with performances in domestic cricket.

Despite consistent efforts, Shami was overlooked earlier. This time, however, the situation appears very different.

Numbers that strengthen Shami’s case

Over the past three to four months, Shami has delivered impressive performances across formats in domestic cricket:

• Ranji Trophy: 20 wickets in 7 innings at an average of 18.60

• Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: 16 wickets in 7 innings, showing strong rhythm despite being slightly expensive

• Vijay Hazare Trophy: 8 wickets in 4 innings so far for Bengal

These performances clearly indicate that Shami has regained both fitness and form, leaving little room for doubt.

Why selectors can’t ignore Shami now

Beyond form, team combination also works in Shami’s favour. With the T20 series and T20 World Cup coming up soon, the selectors may look to rest younger pacers like Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana to keep them fresh. This opens the door for an experienced campaigner like Shami to shoulder responsibility in the ODI series.

For Agarkar and the selection panel, picking Shami now would not only be justified on merit but could also help put an end to a long-standing selection controversy.