3 Players who may never play for India again
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Source: Getty Images)
Published - 10 Jun 2026, 05:01 AM• Read time - 2 mins
Playing in the Indian cricket team is a major dream for every kid who picks up a bat or ball in the country. However, only a few are able to play at the highest level, wearing the coveted blue jersey. Among those who get to play at the international level, a few survive for a long career, while others are shown the door after a brief stay.
Once out of the side, it becomes difficult to break back into the Indian team after a certain age, irrespective of the consistent hard work put in by the players.
Here are three such players, who may have played their last games for team India and will bring curtains down on their careers soon:
3. Mohammed Shami
The right-arm speedster last played for the country in the Champions Trophy 2025, where he finished as the joint second-highest wicket taker with nine wickets from five innings. However, since then, Mohammed Shami hasn’t been considered for national selection, despite toiling hard in domestic cricket. With the selectors not keeping Shami in the pool of players for the World Cup 2027, the curtains are gradually coming down on his career.
2. Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar recently led India to the T20 World Cup 2026 triumph on home soil earlier this year. However, he’s now been removed from the leadership position and has also lost his place in the team due to poor form. The 35-year-old had expressed his desire to play at the men’s cricket event at the Los Angeles Olympics 2028 and the World Cup the same year. However, his wishes are likely to remain unfulfilled, with several waiting in line for every position in the Indian team.
3. Bhuvneshwar Kumar
The right-arm seamer defied his age to deliver a stellar performance during the recently completed Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026). Bhuvneshwar was the second-highest wicket taker of the season with 28 wickets from 16 innings to his name, and played a key role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) second successive title triumph. However, despite his brilliant bowling show, he wasn’t considered for a team India comeback. The 36-year-old last played for the country during the T20 World Cup 2022, and his international career seems almost done, with the selectors not interested in bringing him back.
