NEW DELHI: When Mohammed Shami finished the 2023 ODI World Cup as the highest wicket-taker with 24 scalps, few would have expected that the pacer would later struggle to find a place in the team. However, injuries kept him out of action for a substantial period.
Shami has been out of international cricket for a while, with his last appearance coming in March during the Champions Trophy. He was also left out of the squad for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Additionally, his performances in the 2025 IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad fell short of expectations.
Shami now has an opportunity to prove his mettle in the Duleep Trophy and push for a recall to the Indian Test team. However, making a comeback as a fast bowler at 34 is no easy task. When asked about retirement, Shami responded firmly, signaling his intent to continue.
"If someone has a problem, tell me, if it is like their lives become better if I take retirement. Tell me whose life have I become a rock in that you want me to retire? The day I get bored, I will leave. You don't pick me, but I will keep working hard. You don't pick me in international, I will play domestic. I will keep playing somewhere or the other. You have to make these decisions when you start feeling bored. That is not the time for me now," Shami told News24.
Shami made it clear that his primary goal now is to win the ODI World Cup. Despite the past disappointment, he is focused on being part of a team that can bring the trophy home.
"I only have one dream left, that is to win the ODI World Cup. I want to be a part of that team and perform that wins the ODI World Cup and brings it home. We were very close in 2023. We had a gut feeling, but we also had a fear that we were winning non-stop, and it was the knockout stage. There was some fear. But the enthusiasm and belief of the fans motivated us. This was a dream that could have been fulfilled, but maybe it was not in my luck," he said.
