Former Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan has given a big statement on the future of Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami. The former World Cup winner said it is too early to think that India have moved on from experienced fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami.
Zaheer Khan believes that the India national cricket team management is currently trying out different players to build a strong team for the future, so giving chances to young fast bowlers does not mean that senior bowlers will never get chances at the highest level. Meanwhile, Sikandar Raza warned Team India and refused to call Shreyas Iyer’s team favourites.
Zaheer Khan breaks silence on Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami’s India future
Zaheer Khan insisted that he does not think Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami’s India dreams have ended due to preference being given to youth across formats. While Shami has not played for India since February 2025, Siraj recently played a one-off Test against Afghanistan.
However, the former left-arm pacer has suggested both Shami and Siraj to be match-ready as no one knows when the selectors will recall them. He told that many players have made a successful comeback after being ignored for a long time.
Zaheer Khan said on Cricbuzz, “I don’t think so. The thought process is different. I think when a new player is given a chance, sometimes senior players are given a break. I don’t know how Siraj and Shami have been informed. But as a player, you should always be prepared and control the situation.”
Zaheer Khan wants Siraj and Shami to take inspiration from Dinesh Karthik’s case
He recalled how Dinesh Karthik returned to the Indian team after a long gap and proved his usefulness again. Zaheer pointed out that Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami may not be on the top of the selectors’ priority list right now, but they are still in India’s plans.
He said that the important thing for any player is to keep performing well and be ready for the match whenever the opportunity comes. Meanwhile, Mohammad Kaif explains why Harshit Rana has an edge over other Indian fast bowlers.
Zaheer said, “Maybe they are not their priority. But it is not that the doors are closed for you. I do not think it is so. And if it is not so, then it means that you are in the scheme of things. There is no doubt about that. Yes, you should continue to do other things that are in your hands.”
Zaheer Khan sends message of strong comeback to Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami
The former Indian fast bowler also feels that the national selectors are focusing on players who can contribute in more than one department. Zaheer admitted that selectors and team management these days are giving priority to bowlers who can score useful runs and that is one of the reasons why young players like Harshit Rana are getting opportunities.
Zaheer also gave the example of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and said that if the T20 World Cup was being played now, the selectors would have seriously considered bringing him back into the national team despite the seamer being out of the setup for some time due to his remarkable form in IPL 2026.
He said, “So, sometimes you try to make choices that way. So, as a player, what you do with your hands and what you want, it matters. Whether you want to play cricket or not, whether you want to come back or not – if you want to come back, you try that way. The selection is not in your hands, but players should have such a thought process.”