Follow UsMohammed Shami didn’t play a single competitive game for nearly a year after sustaining an injury during the 2023 ODI World Cup, but the paceman said his hunger to make a comeback into the Indian team never died.
The 34-year-old has been picked for the five-match T20I series against England, starting on January 22 (Wednesday). Shami will also feature in the three-match ODI series before flying to the UAE for the 2025 Champions Trophy.
"Country ke liye jo khelne ki bhoonkh hai woh kabhi khatam nahin honi chahiye. Appko agar usse pyar hai toh aap hamesha fightback karte rahenge, injured chahe aap 10 baar ho jaye (The first thing I feel is that the hunger to play for the country should never end," Shami said at an event organised by Cricket Association of Bengal, reported the Times of India.
"If you have that hunger, you will always fight back, no matter how many times you get injured. Mere dimaag mein hamesha yehi rehta hai mein kitna bhi match khel loon woh mere liye kam hai, kyunke ek baar agar meine cricket chhod toh shayad woh dobara na hoga (No matter how many matches I play, it always feels like less. Because once I leave cricket, I may never get this chance again).”
WATCH: Mohammed Shami bowls with full intensity ahead of international return
Adding more, Shami said: "It has never happened that players who represent their state or country think about leaving the game after an injury. Whenever we get injured, the only thought in our mind is - when can we return? If you are hardworking and committed, no injury can keep you away for too long. You will always find a way to return."
Since recovering from injury, Shami was seen bowling in full tilt for Bengal in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and, later, the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The right-arm speedster picked up 11 wickets in SMAT, averaging 25.36, and was their second-best bowler after Karan Lal in the competition. He bowled 26 overs in the Vijay Hazare tournament with five wickets before being called up to the Indian side.