In the bustling city of New Delhi, veteran cricketer Mohammed Shami appears to carry the weight of a challenging career, having weathered numerous storms. At 35, time isn’t on his side, and chief selector Ajit Agarkar has seemingly signaled a future for the team that looks past him.
Yet, the Bengal fast bowler refuses to concede defeat. Following a recent public disagreement with Agarkar, Shami is letting his performance speak volumes. In just two Ranji Trophy matches this 2025-26 season, he’s spectacularly claimed 15 wickets, emphatically declaring his fitness and readiness for a national return.
Mohammed Badruddin, Shami’s childhood coach, passionately defends his ward, asking, “He’s taking wickets with both the new and old ball, delivering long spells, and has bagged 15 wickets in two matches. He’s played all domestic tournaments. What more proof of fitness does Ajit Agarkar’s selection committee require?”
Badruddin views any doubts about Shami’s fitness as “purely illogical.” He asserts, “If there’s no intention to pick him, they should just state it directly. It’s an insult to a bowler of Shami’s standing and his immense contributions to the nation.”
However, overcoming adversity is a familiar path for Shami.
His journey has been a testament to resilience: from being overlooked by his home state Uttar Pradesh during U-19 trials, to narrowly escaping retirement after a critical knee surgery. He survived a life-threatening road accident, navigated tumultuous personal challenges that led to suicidal thoughts (as he revealed in a candid Instagram chat with Rohit Sharma during lockdown), and endured vicious online abuse after India’s loss to Pakistan in the 2021 T20 World Cup.
Yet, time and again, he has roared back.
Beyond his exceptional ability to swing the ball both ways, Shami possesses two powerful, intrinsic qualities: “zid” (stubborn determination to prove doubters wrong) and “junoon” (unwavering passion to consistently excel). These attributes have been his bedrock, enabling him to transcend profound pain and crushing rejection.
Shreevats Goswami, Shami’s former Bengal teammate and now a commentator, fondly describes him as the “Rolls-Royce of fast bowling.” Goswami, who has witnessed Shami’s journey firsthand, speaks of the sheer artistry in his bowling – from his elegant run-up and precise wrist position to his flawless seam presentation and knack for hitting the ideal length. “When his ball meets the wicketkeeper’s gloves, that distinctive thud is pure poetry,” Goswami remarks. He further reveals that beyond his love for biryani, Shami’s greatest joy comes from the sound of rattling stumps, a testament to his immense passion for the game. Goswami highlights Shami’s “stubbornness” and profound self-belief as key drivers. “It’s simply his will,” he explains. “He relishes taking wickets and possesses an unshakeable conviction: ‘I can do it.’” Despite bowlers often remaining unsung heroes, Goswami declares, “Shami is the Virat Kohli of Indian bowling,” acknowledging his unparalleled impact.
Shami, who last represented India in the Champions Trophy triumph and finished as the country’s top wicket-taker alongside Varun Chakravarthy, has faced a relentless battle with recurring ankle and knee injuries, necessitating surgery after the 2023 World Cup.
His absence from the Indian Test squad has been notable; his last appearance was in the World Test Championship final against Australia in June 2023.
Discussing his future, Shami candidly told his coach, “I’ve had extensive conversations with him (the selector). I am ready, and now the decision rests with the selectors. I am prepared to play across all three formats. I participated in every match of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy last year, and also the Champions Trophy. So now, if they select me, I am absolutely ready. Otherwise, I will continue to play domestically and keep performing.”
His recent performance silences any fitness skeptics: 18 overs in the first innings and 10 in the second, building on nearly 40 overs in the previous match against Uttarakhand. These statistics definitively prove his engine is still robust, and his intensity remains as fierce as ever.
Badruddin proudly notes that “the ball still leaves his hand beautifully,” emphasizing that Shami has “at least three more years of top-level cricket left.” He acknowledges the difficulty for an aging fast bowler to regain rhythm after a significant injury layoff, but asserts, “He has found it back now.”
Badruddin laments Shami’s absence from India’s ODI series in Australia, where bowlers like Josh Hazlewood troubled Indian batsmen, believing Shami would have been invaluable. However, he sees this as a silver lining for Bengal, stating, “Bengal already has two wins in two matches. If Shami plays the entire season, he could very well lead Bengal to a Ranji Trophy victory.”
Following his stellar performance against Gujarat, Shami himself confirmed to reporters that he is “fully fit” after ankle surgery and ready for all formats. He humbly attributed his return to “a lot of hard work” and “luck,” reiterating his deep desire to “play for the country again.”
Through countless injuries, setbacks, and personal storms, Shami has remained an unyielding force. The magical movement he imparts to the ball is a living testament to his enduring class and courage. With “zid” and “junoon” as his unwavering companions, Mohammed Shami’s journey is clearly far from its final chapter.