Despite his international retirement being heavily rumoured, veteran India pacer Mohammed Shami is keen to make his comeback to the national side by impressing at the domestic circuit. Shami, who wasn't able to make the cut into the Men in Blue's 15-member squad for Asia Cup 2025, last featured for the side in the ICC Champions Trophy final against New Zealand.
After getting questioned regarding his future wqith the Indian team, Shami stated that despite the selectors turning a blind eye towards him, he will continue to work hard and will also continue playing at the domestic level. He further remarked that he wants to help India win the ODI World Cup in 2027 and also recalled his experience with the team in the 2023 ODI World Cup where they lost to Australia in the final.
Shami wants to win the ODI World Cup with India
"If someone has a problem, tell me, if it is like their lives become better if I take retirement. Tell me whose life have I become a rock in that you want me to retire? The day I get bored, I will leave. You don't pick me, but I will keep working hard. You don't pick me in international, I will play domestic. I will keep playing somewhere or the other. You have to make these decisions when you start feeling bored. That is not the time for me now," Shami told News24.
"I only have one dream left, that is to win the ODI World Cup. I want to be a part 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 enthusiasm and belief of the fans motivated us. This was a dream that could have been fulfilled, but maybe it was not in my luck," he added.
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Shami also revealed that he has been training hard for the past two months and is focused on getting his rhythm back so that he can once again bowl longer spells.
"Touchwood it is better now. For the last two months I have trained, increased my skills, shed weight and increased the load as well. Let's see the result that I get now. My focus is on getting rhythm and being able to bowl long spells. I have practiced batting and fielding as well and done a lot of gym. Everything is comfortable now," Shami stated.
Meanwhile, Shami has been picked in East Zone's squad for Duleep Trophy. He is likely to feature in their clash against North Zone which is set to commence from August 28 at BCCI'S Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.