India fast bowler Mohammed Shami expressed how difficult it was for him to return to international cricket after suffering an ankle injury in 2023, stating that there were moments he thought he’d never play for India again. Shami hurt himself during the ODI World Cup in 2023, pushing him away from any action for more than a year. He hadn’t gone on the field for India since its defeat to Australia in the ODI World Cup final of 2023, where he was the leading wicket-taker of the tournament. Shami’s return to professional cricket on the other hand was quite a successful one when he took to the field for Bengal in the fifth-round game of the Ranji Trophy against Madhya Pradesh at Indore and took seven wickets in his team’s win.
He also led the Bengal bowling attack in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, picking up nine wickets in 11 games at an economy rate of 7.85, with a best of 3-21 against Hyderabad.
However, the pacer was ruled out for the entire five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series because the injury had flared up again. But the 34-year-old returned to play successfully when featuring in four white-ball fixtures for India against England last month.
He is now set to take a yet another step forward on his return, featuring for the nation in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener against Bangladesh in Dubai on Thursday.
“From being in great form during the World Cup, I was suddenly regarded as somebody on the operating table. It was likewise really heavy in entering the procedure of rehabilitation and recovery from injury.”
“My first question to the doctor was ‘how many days until I can be back on the field’. He said my priority is to get you to walk, then jog and then run’ and thinking about playing competitive cricket is still a distant goal,” Shami told the ICC.
“I always wondered when I would be able to put my feet on the ground again someone who is used to running on the field constantly was now in crutches.
“A lot of thoughts used to run through my mind. Will I be able to do it again? Will I be able to walk without a limp?
“For the first two months, I often doubted whether I would be able to play again as an injury like this followed by a 14-month break can pull you down,” he said.
Shami said that the urge to again represent India on the big stage gave him strength to push through the pain barrier.
“After sixty days when they told me to put my feet on the ground, you wont believe me, but I have ever been more frightened to put my foot on the ground.
“‘It took months to start over nearly as clumsy as a baby learning how to walk. In my mind, I was awaiting all sorts of complications to ensue.Passion for representing the country is by far the most motivating factor and wearing the India badge on my chest kept me going.
“You endure the pain. Step by step you continue and complain not. My passion for representing my country has taken me this far. There have been many times when it was tough and painful, but with tenacity and patience, I got through all that,” said Shami.
The ace pacer further stated he would continue turning out for India as long as his body will hold up.
“My motivation has and will always be to serve my nation for as long as I can, because once you walk away, you are as good as any other person. Today, though, by the grace of God, I am playing for the nation and feeling much better,” he added.
