New Delhi: Mohammed Shami has made it clear he is not done yet. Snubbed for India’s all-format tour of New Zealand, the 36-year-old pacer declared he is “still at my peak” and vowed to keep pushing for an India comeback through the grind of domestic cricket.
Shami, who last turned out for India in March 2025, spoke with his trademark candour after Bengal’s Ranji Trophy victory over Services — a match he sat out due to conditions — and the veteran left no doubt about his hunger for the national jersey.
“Sir, aaj bhi hum peak par hi hain (I am still at my peak),” Shami said, brushing aside talk of decline. When asked about a route back into the Indian side, he added: “Hope should always be there (for India comeback)… Today we are playing for Ranji Trophy and playing for the title.”
The pacer also addressed the communication gap that often surrounds non-selected players. “Sir, I am not in the Indian team, who will talk to me? And why will they talk to me?” he said of the selectors — a pointed but honest take on life on the outside.
Shami was generous in welcoming the return of fellow veteran Bhuvneshwar Kumar to the national setup after nearly four years, a comeback he seemed to see as proof that persistence pays. For a fast bowler who has spent two decades shouldering India’s pace attack across formats, the sight of another senior seamer earning a recall is clearly a source of genuine encouragement.
“The day I end my career, it will be with this team,” he said of Bengal, pledging his loyalty to his domestic side regardless of what lies ahead. It was a reminder that even as the India dream burns on, the Ranji Trophy dressing room remains his home turf.
The message from one of India’s finest fast bowlers of the modern era is unmistakable: he believes he has plenty left in the tank, and he intends to make the selectors notice — one Ranji Trophy spell at a time. Whether the door reopens remains to be seen, but Shami has made clear he will be knocking, and knock loudly.
At 36, with hundreds of international wickets behind him, Shami knows exactly what it takes to succeed at the top level. The road back runs through wickets, rhythm and relentless consistency — and he intends to tick every box.
The message from one of India’s finest fast bowlers of the modern era is unmistakable: he believes he has plenty left in the tank, and he intends to make the selectors notice — one Ranji Trophy spell at a time.
