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Mohammed Shami is aiming for the 2027 World Cup, reflecting on past injuries and his dream of ODI World Cup glory.
Indian pacer Mohammed Shami (PTI)
Veteran Indian pacer Mohammed Shami made a much-anticipated return to competitive cricket on Thursday, playing for East Zone within the Duleep Trophy in Bengaluru. Facing North Zone, the 34-year-old bowled with discipline on Day 1, ending with figures of 1/55 in 17 overs.
This marked his comeback after over three months away from the sector, having last played on May 2 for Sunrisers Hyderabad within the Indian Premier League (IPL). That outing was disappointing for Shami, as he went wicketless while conceding 48 runs in three overs against the Gujarat Titans. His 2025 IPL campaign overall was modest, yielding only six wickets in nine matches.
Shami’s absence has been felt in Indian cricket over the past yr. He missed the high-profile Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test series in England earlier in 2025 and was also overlooked of India’s squad for the Asia Cup starting in September. His last appearance in national colors got here in the course of the ICC Champions Trophy earlier this yr, where he played a key role in India’s title-winning campaign. Leading the pace attack in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, Shami finished as India’s joint-highest wicket-taker with nine scalps in five matches, sharing the honour with Varun Chakravarthy. He had also been India’s standout bowler within the 2023 ODI World Cup, topping the charts with 24 wickets, and has since stated that winning the 2027 World Cup stays his biggest dream.
Nonetheless, Shami’s journey has not been without setbacks. He revealed that in the course of the 2023 World Cup, he played despite an ankle injury, which worsened and eventually forced him right into a 14-month break to regain fitness. Reflecting on his struggles, Shami admitted that fast bowlers often “overpush” their bodies and pay a heavy price later, citing similar experiences from the 2015 World Cup when he needed to undergo knee surgery.
What Did Mohammed Shami Say?
“I only have one dream left, that’s to win the ODI World Cup. I need to be an element 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 passion and belief of the fans motivated us. This was a dream that would have been fulfilled, but perhaps it was not in my luck,” Shami was quoted as saying to News24 in an interview.
“We regularly overpush, after which we now have to pay an enormous penalty. It happened to me in the course of the 2015 World Cup after I pushed so much after which needed to get my knee operated on. It was the identical scene in 2023. I played in pain after which I had to present up and spent plenty of time after that. I’m not saying to not push, but whether it is a traditional series, you must consult with the management,” Shami added.
(With inputs from Agencies)
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin…Read More
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin… Read More
Read More