Mohammed Shami still hungry for next level despite long India absence

Mohammed Shami has not played for India since March 2025, but the veteran pacer says the hunger to keep pushing himself remains as strong as ever.

In Short

• Mohammed Shami has not played for India since March 2025
• East Zone clinched the Duleep Trophy on the basis of first innings lead
• Shami called the title win in his 100th first-class match special

Mohammed Shami may have been away from international cricket for more than a year, but there was little to suggest that the veteran pacer had lost his edge in the Chennai heat. The 36-year-old Bengal fast bowler claimed two wickets in the Duleep Trophy final and, after helping East Zone secure the title, spoke about the hunger that continues to fuel his career.

For Shami, the motivation has not changed with the level of cricket or the stage of his career. Whether he is playing for India or turning out in domestic cricket, the experienced pacer believes the next challenge is always worth chasing.

"There are plenty of reasons to stay motivated if you look for them. At this level, if you aren't self-motivated, your approach is wrong. No matter what stage you're playing at, your eyes must always be set on the next level," Shami said after East Zone's Duleep Trophy final against South Zone in Chennai on Thursday.

Shami has not played for India since March 2025, while his last Test appearance came much earlier, in the World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval in 2023. Yet, his performance in Chennai showed that he remains fully invested in the game.

The Bengal fast bowler picked up the important wickets of Ravichandran Smaran and Sheikh Rasheed as South Zone were bowled out for 336 in their first innings. East Zone gained a massive 372-run lead and eventually secured the Duleep Trophy on the basis of their first-innings advantage.

The victory was particularly memorable for Shami as it came in his 100th first-class match.

"As far as satisfaction goes, achieving this in my 100th match - and that too in a winning Duleep Trophy final - is special. East Zone has won this after a very long time. You've seen how we performed.

"Every single boy put his heart and soul into this campaign to get us here. To achieve this in these conditions, in this heat, is outstanding. As for me, whether it's your first match or your 100th, it doesn't matter - the effort and the approach remain exactly the same," he said.

For a player who has spent well over a decade at the top level, domestic cricket could easily have felt like a step down. Shami, however, does not look at it that way.

For him, putting on a team's colours brings the same sense of responsibility, irrespective of the competition.

"When you wear that crest on your chest, the level of cricket doesn't matter. If you play for the badge, that hunger will naturally show. Your willingness to fight only grows when you play with that pride.

"My mindset is simple: whichever level I get an opportunity to play, I want to make it count and fulfil my responsibility toward the team," Shami said.

The Duleep Trophy campaign also gave Shami an opportunity to spend time with the younger members of the East Zone squad. Among them was Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the teenage batter who has already made his presence felt in the IPL.

"I thoroughly enjoyed it. The kid in our team (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi) is literally as old as my career. He has that youthful innocence, loves to joke around, and absorbs things quickly," Shami said.

The veteran pacer does not believe youngsters need to be overloaded with advice. In his view, the amount of high-pressure cricket they are exposed to at a young age means many of them develop a level of maturity much earlier.

"But most of these youngsters are already quite mature. With the level of cricket they play today - featuring in the IPL and other high-pressure tournaments - maturity comes early, so you don't need to over-coach them.

"But yes, when the game gets tight and challenging, that's when you step in with tactical inputs and remind them to keep fighting," he said.

SHAMI FINDS A WAY IN CHENNAI HEAT

The conditions in Chennai tested Shami and the other fast bowlers throughout the final. The heat and humidity were relentless, while the pitch offered little conventional swing and the bounce stayed low.

Shami had already experienced more bowler-friendly conditions in Bengaluru during the tournament, making the change in conditions even more noticeable.

"I'm always learning. In conditions like these, you can't expect much conventional swing, and the bounce was quite low. In Bengaluru, conditions favoured the bowlers far more, so coming here was a stark contrast.

"So, my approach was strictly about sticking to my line and length, and that's where I try to create wickets. And honestly, if you can't exploit reverse swing in this kind of heat, what's the point?" he said.

One of Shami's wickets, Rasheed, came after the pacer patiently worked his way through a plan. He kept taking the ball away from the right-hander before eventually bringing one back in sharply to trap him in front.

Shami said that kind of tactical battle is what makes bowling challenging when conditions offer little assistance.

"In conditions like this, it turns into a completely different tactical battle. When conditions are in your favour, executing plans is straightforward. The real test is when conditions don't suit you and that's when your skill is tested in its purest form.

"Wickets don't just happen out of nowhere, especially on tracks like these. The plan was to keep taking the ball away from him (Rasheed), build that expectation, and then bring one back in sharply to trap him. That's precisely how it unfolded," he added.

Shami is now in the latter stages of his career, but his showing in the Duleep Trophy final was another reminder of the experience he can bring to an attack.

His absence from the Indian team has remained a talking point, particularly with fans continuing to remember his ability to produce wickets even when conditions are not in favour of the fast bowlers.

With India's quicks having gone through a difficult period in recent months, Shami's performances have inevitably brought more attention to his international prospects.

The pacer, though, is leaving that decision outside his control. His focus remains on doing the hard work and making every opportunity count.

"It feels wonderful to receive so much love and support. I am truly grateful from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has supported me along the way.

"My job is simply to put in the hard work - the rest is in the hands of the Almighty," he signed off.

- Ends