New Delhi: Mohammed Shami walked out of the Bengal dressing room knowing there would be no easy questions. The veteran fast bowler, who had missed another India selection and sat out Bengal's Ranji Trophy match against Services, was prepared to talk. He was measured in his responses, occasionally joking with reporters about their attempts to draw him into a controversy. But when the questions turned to his fitness and workload, Shami did not hold back.
How could people watching from the outside decide how many overs he should bowl? Why should a fast bowler continue bowling when the pitch and match situation demanded something different? Shami was responding to criticism that he had been bowling short spells in domestic cricket, sometimes of just three overs, before taking breaks. The 36-year-old questioned the basis of such assessments, insisting that bowling changes were dictated by the conditions and the team's requirements rather than an individual bowler's fitness.
How can anyone else from the outside decide whether long spells are bowled or not? That depends entirely on the demands of the team and the game situation, Shami explained to reporters after Bengal's win over Services in Palam. On certain wickets, planning for a fast bowler to deliver a specific high number of overs is impractical. If the conditions favor spin or if a batter is uncomfortable against a different type of delivery, the captain makes the tactical call. Shami added that he had bowled for an hour and a half during training with no physical issues, and firmly rejected the idea that age had diminished his abilities, stating that he is still performing at his absolute peak.
Shami did not feature in Bengal's second Ranji Trophy match despite the absence of frontline pacers Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar on India A duty. He had played the season opener against Delhi in Kalyani, claiming four wickets for 30 runs in 17.3 overs. His absence at Palam sparked questions after he was overlooked for India's Test tour of New Zealand. Bengal coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla previously clarified that Shami was fit and had requested rest following a heavy workload, which also allowed the team to test younger players. Shami echoed this, noting that playing youngsters on that particular pitch provided valuable experience when his own presence was not strictly required.
Although not in the playing XI, Shami remained heavily involved with the squad, participating in training, consulting the team physio, and practicing his batting. Despite missing out on national selection after taking 37 wickets in seven Ranji Trophy matches last season, Shami stated he was not disappointed and aimed to stay match-fit through domestic fixtures and upcoming tournaments to maintain his rhythm and prepare for the Indian Premier League. He confirmed he had no recent communication with national selectors, pointing out that without a current central contract or spot in the active squad, such discussions were not happening. While refusing to look as far ahead as the 2027 ODI World Cup, Shami made it clear that his international aspirations remain entirely alive.