After 14 months on the sidelines due to heel surgery, followed by a side strain and knee problems, India's Mohammed Shami is all set to return to international cricket with the next five-match T20I series against England starting on January 22 in Kolkata.
He last played for India in the finals of the 2023 World Cup. However, Mohammed Shami was expected to make a comeback during India's Test season, but knee complications delayed his return. However, the Bengal pacer played in Ranji Trophy 2024-25, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25 and Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 to prove his fitness.
Mohammed Shami is set to return to the international arena with renewed energy
Now, Shami is all set to roar for Team India in the first T20I against England. Notably, the experienced pacer has also been named in India's squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series as well as the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, but his fitness is still a concern for the think tank and they will get clear answers after the ODIs . series.
They will be watching closely how Shami performs physically in the next two weeks. However, he is unlikely to play all five T20Is against England, but his performance in the upcoming ODIs will be crucial for India ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 as the pacer looks to regain full fitness to do well . come back
Shami says the hunger to play for India is taking him through a tough time
Ahead of the first T20I in Kolkata, Mohammed Shami spoke about his comeback story, saying his passion and love for representing India has been his driving force throughout his long recovery. Shami knows that his time in the Indian cricket team will not last forever, so he is determined to make the most of every opportunity to play before he retires from the game.
Mohammed Shami said at an event hosted by the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), “The dream of playing for the country should never end. If you love him, you will always fight back, even if you get hurt 10 times. (The first thing I feel is that the hunger to play for the country should never end. If you have that hunger, you will always fight back, even if you get injured 10 times.)”
Life without cricket seems incomplete: Mohammed Shami
The experienced bowler added, “That's always there in my mind, no matter how many matches I play, it's less for me because once if my cricket is short, maybe it won't happen again (no matter how many matches I play, it always feels like less because once I leave cricket, I might not get that chance again.”
Shami also emphasized that the game is everything to a player and life feels incomplete without him. The Indian pacer also admitted that his life was very tough but playing for the country was motivation enough to keep him going.
He ended by saying, “I used to look at the India jersey every day during rehab. Playing for Bengal felt like going back to the early days. It gave me new energy and joy.”