“If it is like their lives become better if I take retirement” - Mohammed Shami opens up on retirement talks

Indian seamer Mohammed Shami isn’t considering retirement as he is all set to play domestic cricket to get into the Indian team. Notably, Shami missed out on the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy due to fitness concerns.

Moreover, the Indian pacer hasn’t been picked for the forthcoming Asia Cup 2025 campaign, which is starting on Tuesday, September 9, in the United Arab Emirates. It’s worth noting that Shami emerged as the joint-leading wicket-taker in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 for India as Men In Blue went on to clinch the title, defeating New Zealand in the final.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with News24, Shami said that the day he gets bored playing the game of cricket, he would decide to retire. However, for now, he is keen to play domestic cricket to make it to the Indian team.

"If someone has a problem, tell me, if it is like their lives become better if I take retirement. Tell me whose life have I become a rock in that you want me to retire? The day I get bored, I will leave. You don't pick me, but I will keep working hard. You don't pick me in international, I will play domestic. I will keep playing somewhere or the other. You have to make these decisions when you start feeling bored. That is not the time for me now," Shami told News24.

With Team India failing to win the ICC ODI World Cup in 2023 after losing to Australia in the grand finale, Shami has the dream of lifting the ODI World Cup in 2027 and he is eager to be a part of the ODI set-up in the near future. 

"I only have one dream left, that is to win the ODI World Cup. I want to be a part of that team and perform that wins the ODI World Cup and brings it home. We were very close in 2023. We had a gut feeling, but we also had a fear that we were winning non-stop, and it was the knockout stage. There was some fear. But the enthusiasm and belief of the fans motivated us. This was a dream that could have been fulfilled, but maybe it was not in my luck," he added.

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