‘Mai bolunga to bawal ho jayega’: Mohammed Shami speaks out on selection snub after his fifer

Senior India pacer Mohammed Shami has returned to competitive cricket. He stated that playing for Bengal is a matter of passion, not a comeback. Shami delivered an impressive performance with five wickets in the second innings. He has been dealing with injuries since the 2023 World Cup. Shami also commented on media scrutiny and social media perceptions.

Kolkata: Bengal's Mohammed Shami and Shahbaz Ahmed celebrate after clinching victory on the fourth day of the Ranji Trophy match against Gujarat, at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. (PTI Photo/Swapan Mahapatra)(PTI10_28_2025_000299A)

Senior India pacer Mohammed Shami has brushed aside talks of his “comeback,” saying that representing Bengal is always a matter of passion, not return. The veteran fast bowler, who recently made a successful return to competitive cricket, spoke candidly about media narratives and life’s ups and downs. “When you call it a comeback match, I honestly don’t understand. Maybe you could have said that last year. Playing for Bengal always comes straight from the heart,” Shami said after the match.

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Shami wrapped up the second innings with impressive figures of 5 for 38, guiding his team to a commanding 141-run win. Earlier, he had also made a strong impact in the first innings, claiming three wickets Shami, who last represented India in the Champions Trophy triumph and finished as the country's top wicket-taker alongside Varun Chakravarthy, has battled recurring ankle and knee injuries that required surgery after the 2023 World Cup. The 35-year-old has not been a part of the Indian Test side for a while, having last played in the World Test Championship final against Australia in June 2023. Known for his forthright views, Shami didn’t shy away from addressing the constant scrutiny around him. “I always end up being in controversies — you (the media) have made me that kind of bowler,” he said with a wry smile. "Mai bolunga to bawal ho jayega (If I will speak, I will get in trouble)."

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Reflecting on how perceptions build in the age of social media, Shami added, “Now what can I say? I can’t even blame you; everyone does the same thing. On social media, people say anything they want.” For Shami, cricket remains a job that demands focus and faith. “This is our job — wherever we get an opportunity, we play,” he said. “Whatever is written in our destiny will happen. A person moves forward believing in his luck. Success and failure are part of life.” The veteran pacer, who was the leading wicket-taker in India's runner-up finish at the 2023 World Cup taking 24 wickets in seven matches, suffered a heel injury and had to go under knife to treat his Achilles tendon. He was ignored for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia because of a recurring knee soreness, but Shami went on to play a stellar role in India's Champions Trophy-winning campaign in March this year. The Bengal pacer, who made another comeback this season in the Duleep Trophy playing for East Zone, said he has followed the right process since surgery and rehab and has been match-ready for a while.

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