Shami: 'I'm still at my peak, why would I give up hope of playing for India?'

Mohammed Shami may not have been selected for the upcoming tour of New Zealand, but the India fast bowler has not given up hope of making an international comeback, insisting that he is still at his peak, fully fit, and bowling with good rhythm.

"Why will I leave hope? The hope should always be there," Shami said after the Ranji Trophy game between Bengal and Services. "In any profession, you shouldn't leave hope. You should always have a goal. If we are playing in the Ranji Trophy, it is to win the title for the state right? Goals should always be there. I don't deny that I have that goal."

Shami last played for India in March 2025, during the Champions Trophy, where he was India's joint-highest wicket-taker alongside Varun Chakaravarthy, with nine wickets. Since then, he has been playing domestic cricket across all three formats as well as the IPL, but the selectors seem to have moved past him.

Following Bhuvneshwar Kumar's selection in the T20I squad for the New Zealand tour, hopes were raised that the Indian selection committee under its new chair might consider Shami's name. However, when the Test and ODI squads for the New Zealand tour were announced last Friday, Shami's name was missing once again.

Was he disappointed about the omission?

"It was not about disappointment. I played all the matches last season as well. My motive is that I play as much as I can in the upcoming tournaments," he said. "Nobody knows when anybody would be needed. For me, it is good even for 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."

Kickstarting the Indian domestic season, Shami played all three matches of the Duleep Trophy, taking a total of seven wickets, including a five-wicket haul in the semi-final. However, he was not included in the Rest of India squad for the Irani Cup that followed. During the first round of the Ranji Trophy, he picked up a total of five wickets against Delhi, including a four-wicket haul in the first innings, but he did not step onto the field for Bengal's second Ranji Trophy match, against Services.

"How can anyone else from the outside decide whether I bowl long spells or not? That 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 it be planned that a fast bowler will bowl five or ten overs? This thing depends entirely on the game situation and pitch conditions."

Mohammed Shami

However, the reason behind this was not his fitness; rather, on a spin-friendly pitch, Shami wanted to give other young bowlers an opportunity. During the match, which ended in three days, Shami was constantly seen practicing both with bat and ball at the nets adjacent to the ground.

Responding to questions raised over his fitness, Shami said, "I am still at my peak. You all can see it for yourselves, I trained today and yesterday as well. You could see the condition of the pitch, right? There was no point in playing on this wicket for two to four overs. It was better that the youngsters got a run. The more they play, the more experiences 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 obviously can't play as a batter.

"How can anyone else from the outside decide whether I bowl long spells or not? That 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 it be planned that a fast bowler will bowl five or ten overs? If it is uncomfortable for a batter, the fast bowler will bowl. If we think a spinner will get the wickets, he will bowl obviously. This thing depends entirely on the game situation and pitch conditions. That is the captain's call."

Shami also said that he has had no contact with the selectors or the selection committee under the new chair because he is not in the team. However, he appeared happy about the return of Bhuvneshwar, who is making a comeback to international cricket after nearly four years. "The way Bhuvneshwar has performed, his selection should have happened much earlier," Shami said.

Shami also expressed his commitment towards domestic cricket and Bengal cricket.

"I don't know what will happen or what won't. 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).

"As far as Bengal cricket is concerned, this is the team that has given me a name. All these cameras and questions, trying to trap me, 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 hard work, which I am doing. Only that it is in my control. The rest isn't in my control. Just keep playing, that is my thinking."

When Shami was asked once again where he sees his career going from here and if his eyes are set on the 2027 ODI World Cup, he remained non-committal.

"I don't 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 any load by thinking far into the future. I am getting to play domestic cricket right now. There is a lot of time (for the 2027 ODI World Cup), and for now, I am enjoying playing domestic cricket."