Mohammad Shami has pushed back against questions over his fitness and commitment after sitting out Bengal’s Ranji Trophy clash against Services, saying the decision was based on the pitch conditions and the opportunity to give younger players more game time.
Bengal secured a 60-run victory at the Air Force Ground in Palam on Tuesday, with spinners accounting for 39 of the match’s 40 wickets. Shami’s absence attracted attention after he was left out of India’s ODI and Test squads for the upcoming New Zealand tour, extending his international absence beyond 20 months.
The 36-year-old was emphatic when asked about his physical condition.
“Hum peak mein hi hain. Zabardasti jhooth bolne mein koi fayda nahin. Jaise bhi hai, hum peak mein hi hain,” Shami told reporters, insisting he remained at the peak of his fitness.
He explained that the surface offered little reason to deploy a fast bowler for only a brief spell when Bengal had other options.
“You could see the condition of this pitch, right? There was no point in playing on this wicket for two to four overs. It was better for the youngsters to get a run here. The more they play, the more experience they will get,” he said.
“My motive is that when the team requires me, I play. I don’t think there was really a need here. I can’t play as a batter, obviously.”
Shami also rejected suggestions on social media that he was struggling to bowl long spells or needed frequent breaks during domestic matches. He said a bowler’s workload should depend on the demands of the game and the pitch conditions.
“How can anyone else from the outside decide whether I bowl long spells or not? That is completely dependent on the demands of the team,” he said.
Shami had bowled more than 35 overs and taken five wickets in Bengal’s nine-wicket win over Delhi in Kalyani the previous week. He added that he had bowled in the nets for an hour and a half on the day of the Services match, with no issues.
Despite another omission from India’s squads, Shami has not abandoned hopes of an international return.
“Why should I give up hope? The hope should always be there. In any profession, you should always have a goal. I don’t deny I have that goal,” he said.
His immediate focus remains on performing for Bengal, with a return to the national side still an ambition he intends to pursue.
