All in God's hands, but I'm working hard: Shami keeps India comeback hopes alive

Mohammed Shami said he remains self-motivated after helping East Zone win the Duleep Trophy in his 100th first-class match. With the West Indies chance gone, India's New Zealand tour now shapes as his clearest route back.Mohammed Shami remains focused on earning his India comeback. (Photo: Reuters)Mohammed Shami may be out of the India setup, but the veteran fast bowler has shown no signs of letting the uncertainty around his international future affect his motivation. Fresh from helping East Zone win the Duleep Trophy, Shami insists the desire to keep improving remains unchanged.The 36-year-old has continued to turn out in domestic cricket since his last appearance for India in March 2025, with his latest outing coming in a memorable Duleep Trophy final. Speaking to reporters after East Zone's triumph in Chennai, Shami explained how he keeps himself driven despite the chatter surrounding his comeback."There are plenty of reasons to stay motivated if you look for them. You can draw positivity from this ground or any ground you step onto. At this level, if you aren't self-motivated, your approach is wrong."Shami also made it clear that his approach does not change depending on the stage of his career or the importance of a particular match. "Whether it's your first match or your 100th, it doesn't matter — the effort and the approach remain exactly the same," he said.The Duleep Trophy triumph was particularly special for Shami as it came in his 100th first-class match, while East Zone ended a 13-year wait for the title. He played his part with the ball, claiming the important wickets of Ravichandran Smaran and Sheikh Rasheed as South Zone were bowled out for 336.CAN SHAMI MAKE AN INDIA COMEBACK? With the West Indies series now ruled out as a comeback opportunity, the next realistic window for Shami is India's tour of New Zealand. India will play five ODIs from November 4 to 15, followed by two Tests, giving the veteran a potential chance to push his case in the format where his experience remains particularly valuable.The ODI series also carries added significance with the 2027 World Cup looming on the horizon. India are already beginning to shape their 50-over combination for the tournament, and Shami's experience could be valuable if he can prove his fitness and effectiveness in New Zealand, particularly with workload management around Jasprit Bumrah becoming an important consideration.The two Tests in New Zealand could offer another route back into the red-ball setup, while Australia's five-Test tour of India begins in January 2027. But for now, the New Zealand ODIs stand out as Shami's clearest potential opening to return to international cricket.SHAMI'S WORK CONTINUESThe Bengal pacer has remained active across formats over the past 18 months. Before the Duleep Trophy, he took 36 wickets in the Ranji Trophy, 16 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and 15 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy during the 2025-26 domestic season, while bowling 62 overs during the Duleep Trophy.Shami has avoided getting drawn into selection discussions, instead focusing on what he can control. His Duleep Trophy campaign and 100th first-class appearance have provided another reminder that he remains invested in competing at the highest level.There was little sign of a player slowing down in Chennai. Shami found movement on a surface that offered little to the fast bowlers, celebrated East Zone's title with his teammates and walked away with another domestic milestone. The West Indies door may have closed, but New Zealand offers the next opportunity, and with the 2027 World Cup beginning to shape India's ODI plans, Shami has plenty of reason to keep doing what he has done throughout his career — turn up and put in the work.- EndsPublished By: Debodinna ChakrabortyPublished On: Sep 11, 2026 09:30 IST