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News Delhi: Star India pacer Mohammed Shami, has denied rumors of his retirement and emphasized that he is ready to play domestic cricket in order to gain a spot in the national squad again. Shami, who last played for India in the Champions Trophy in March of this year, has not been included in the squad for the upcoming Asia Cup.
When asked about his future, he shot back with a counter-question, wondering if anyone had an issue with him. He made it clear that retirement is not on his mind, as he believes he still has a lot of cricket to offer.
Shami indicated that he is willing to put in the effort through domestic cricket, as he is focused to return to the Indian team and contributing towards their quest to win the 2027 ODI World Cup.
“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 also looked back on India’s close loss to Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, admitting that fortune didn’t favor them on that day.
“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 added.
Shami shared that he has been putting in intense effort over the past two months to refine different areas of his game and now feels prepared to make his comeback.
“Touchwood it is better now. For the last two months I have trained, increased my skills, shed weight and increased the load as well. Let’s see the result that I get now. My focus is on getting rhythm and being able to bowl long spells. I have practiced batting and fielding as well and done a lot of gym. Everything is comfortable now,” said Shami.
Shami disclosed that he was prepared to travel with the team to England but withdrew at the last minute after feeling discomfort. He explained that he chose to step aside, as forcing his body in such situations has previously resulted in multiple injuries.
“We often overpush, and then we have to pay a big penalty. It happened to me during the 2015 World Cup when I pushed a lot and then had to get my knee operated on. It was the same scene in 2023. I played in pain and then I had to give up and spent a lot of time after that. I am not saying not to push, but if it is a normal series, you should talk to the management,” he concluded.
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