It was a warm Tuesday afternoon at the Airforce Complex Ground in Palam. As soon as Bengal wrapped up a 60-run victory over Services on the stroke of what should have been the scheduled tea interval in the second round of the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy, the journalists present, a significant number for a domestic encounter at a quaint venue in the national capital, hovered outside the winning team’s dressing room. An interaction with Mohammed Shami was unanimously sought.
Shami hadn’t even taken part in the Ranji fixture, but he was clearly the star attraction at the culmination of the game. Two days before the commencement of the encounter, the veteran pacer’s name had again been omitted from India’s squads for the ODI and Test series against New Zealand next month.
It has been a theme for the last year. Shami has been keen to prove his detractors wrong and allay doubts over his fitness by playing regularly for Bengal – he played in seven of nine matches in the State’s Ranji semifinal exit last season – in the domestic circuit, but the wise men of Indian cricket have repeatedly looked in a different direction.
His last assignment for the country was the ICC Champions Trophy in March 2025. He had returned to the Indian set-up just ahead of the tournament after a lengthy lay-off due to a knee injury and ankle surgery following the 2023 ODI World Cup. Over the course of the eight-team Champions Trophy, where spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was missing in action because of a lower back injury, Shami stepped up ably, scalping nine victims in five matches in India’s undefeated march to glory.
Yet, Shami’s yearning for a return to the bright lights of international cricket hasn’t materialised.
Whether that will change in whatever is remaining of his career is uncertain. Regardless, Shami’s reputation as one of India’s finest fast bowlers cannot be taken away. Particularly when he was part of the pace attack also featuring Bumrah, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav under Virat Kohli’s captaincy, there was no let-up for the batter facing. Shami, never mind his fondness for a sumptuous plate of biryani, would charge in all day long and release the ball with a perfectly upright seam to make it jag at his command. He went on to produce many great spells, as 229 wickets in 64 Tests and 206 scalps in 108 ODIs testify.
During the course of the media interaction in Palam, he set the record straight on his fitness, responded to his omission for the tour of New Zealand, the motivation to play for Bengal and more. Excerpts:
You had trained on the day before the Bengal-Services game. The Bengal captain and coach said that you were fit and resting. What was the reasoning behind you opting not to play the match?
I trained on day three and four of the game too. You could see the condition of the pitch, right? There was no point in playing on this wicket and bowling two to four overs. It was better that the youngsters got a run. The more they play, the more experience they will get. My motive is that when the team requires me, I play. I don’t think there was really a need here. I can’t play as a batter.
You have been playing domestic cricket regularly. Yet, you are not part of the touring party to New Zealand. How disappointing is it to have been overlooked for the series?
It was not about disappointment. I played (almost) all the matches last season as well. My motive is to play as much as I can in the upcoming tournaments. Nobody knows when anybody will be needed. For me, it is good even for Indian Premier League (IPL) preparation if I keep playing domestic cricket. As long as I play a lot of matches, my rhythm will be good. If I am with the team, the atmosphere will be good. These are the things that I try to do.
Your record in international cricket is proven. Skill-wise, do you still consider yourself one of the best in Indian cricket right now?
I can’t praise myself. That is something that you all will have to be asked. But I try to ensure that whoever I am playing for, I tick the boxes required and fulfil my responsibility. I try to ensure that my effort is 100% and the team’s needs are fulfilled. I don’t think of anything more than this.
You have played a lot of cricket with Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He has made a comeback to the T20I team. Does it offer encouragement that your performances in domestic cricket will also be rewarded?
I don’t know what will happen or not happen. But there can’t be anything better for any player than the fact that the domestic season has started. This is the best platform for any player to get into rhythm. Whoever is available, whether senior or junior, should look to make the competition tough for the opponent (in domestic cricket).
How happy are you for Bhuvneshwar to have earned a recall?
The way he has performed, he should have been there in the Indian team much earlier.
There has been talk that you haven’t been able to bowl long spells for Bengal, and that you have needed frequent breaks off the field. What would you like to say to that?
How can anyone from the outside judge whether I am bowling long spells? It is dependent on the demands of the team. It is not like I will keep bowling over after over. On a wicket like this, for example, how can you plan to have a fast bowler bowl five or ten overs on the trot? If it is uncomfortable for a batter, the fast bowler will bowl. If we think a spinner will take the wickets, he will bowl more. This depends entirely on the game situation and pitch conditions. That is the captain’s call.
By the way, I bowled for one-and-a-half hours today. There was no issue.
You have had your peak. Is your age a barrier now?
I am still at my peak. There is no point in not saying what I think is right. Regardless of how old I am, I feel I am at my peak.
You were instrumental in India reaching the 2023 ODI World Cup final. The next World Cup is in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, and just a year away. How keen are you to keep pushing yourself with that tournament in mind?
I do not think that far ahead. You never know what will happen in life. You don’t know who will score runs or take wickets. There is no point thinking that far ahead. Just keep playing the matches. Just keep improving. I always say that my focus should be on my skill and my fitness. I don’t want to take on any load by thinking about the future. I am getting to play domestic cricket right now. There is a lot of time (for the 2027 ODI World Cup). I am just playing.
There has been a change in the selection panel recently. Ajit Agarkar has left his role. Has there been any communication with the selectors after that?
I am not with the Indian team. I am not contracted. Why will anybody talk to me right now?
How much are you enjoying this phase of playing domestic cricket for Bengal?
This is the team that has given me a name. All these cameras and questions are because of this team. And whenever I end my career, it will be with this team. The stage or level does not matter. You should have loyalty and work hard. I am doing that. Only that is in my control. The rest isn’t in my control. That is how I think.
You say that the 2027 World Cup is some time away. But how much hope do you realistically have of playing for India again?
Why would I give up hope? Hope should always be there. I say this for any profession. You should always have a goal. Even when we play in the Ranji Trophy, it is to win the title for the State. Goals should always be there. I don’t deny that.