India fast bowler Mohammed Shami has quashed rumors of retirement, stating that he is keen to play domestic cricket as a route back into the Indian team. Shami was omitted from the next Asia Cup team, and his last international appearance for India came during the Champions Trophy in March this year.
Asked if retirement loomed, he shot back with a question of his own, inquiring whether anyone actually had any problem with him. He clarified that retirement is the last thing on his mind, as he believes he has plenty of cricket to play.
Shami highlighted his commitment to putting in the hard work through domestic cricket by mentioning that his immediate priority is coming back to the Indian team and helping them win a possible 2027 ODI World Cup.
"If you have a issue, let me know, if it is like your lives will become better if I retire. Let me know whose life have I become a boulder that you want me to retire. The day I feel bored, I will go. You don't select me, but I will work harder. You don't select me in international, I will play domestic. I will continue to play somewhere or the other. You will have to make those choices when you feel bored. That's not my time now," Shami informed News24.
Looking back on India's narrow defeat to Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, Shami acknowledged they were not lucky that evening.
"I have just one dream remaining, that is to win the ODI World Cup. I wish to be included in that team and play that wins the ODI World Cup and brings it home. We were close in 2023. We had a gut feeling, but we also had a fear that we were winning incessantly, and it was the knockout stage. There was some fear. But the optimism and belief of the people encouraged us. This was a dream that could have been achieved, but perhaps it was not in my luck," he stated.
Shami also mentioned that he has been putting in hard work during the last two months to improve various aspects of his game and is now ready for a comeback.
"Touchwood it is more good now. I have practiced for the past two months, enhanced my skills, lost weight and enhanced the workload as well. Let's see what result I obtain now. I am concentrating to get rhythm and be able to bowl long spells. I have also practiced batting and fielding and done lots of gym. Everything feels comfortable now," Shami disclosed.
He added that he was ready to join the team in England but had to withdraw at the last moment due to discomfort. This decision, though difficult, was made to avoid overexerting himself, which has previously led to injuries.
"We tend to overpush, and then we pay a huge price for it. It happened to me in the 2015 World Cup when I pushed a lot and then had to undergo a knee operation. It was the same picture in 2023. I played hurting myself and then I had to surrender and spent a good amount of time afterward. I am not saying don't push, but if it is a regular series, you should discuss with the management," he added.
Until now, Shami has played 64 Tests, 108 ODIs, and 27 T20Is, taking a combined 462 wickets in all formats.
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