"You don't pick me, don't play me, I don't care"- Mohammed Shami slaughters Gautam Gambhir
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Indian veteran pacer Mohammed Shami, who is no longer seen as a regular player in India's white-ball games, has taken an indirect dig at the Indian management for keeping him out of internationals unnecessarily and instigating retirement plans.
Veteran Indian fast bowler Shami has not been considered to feature regularly for India in the bilaterals since the Rahul Dravid era, though one might reason that Shami's snub was due to his overimpending injuries in the last few years.
However, Shami was part of India's successful ICC campaigns in the ODI World Cup 2023 and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, and he contributed significantly as the lead pacer.
He finished CWC with the highest number of wickets, 24. His Champions Trophy tally also ended as the joint second-highest number of wickets in the tournament and the joint highest for India.
"Whose life will become better if I take retirement?" Shami takes an indirect dig at Gautam Gambhir
Irked by the repeated questions surrounding his retirement plans after being snubbed from the Indian squad for the Asia Cup, Mohammed Shami took a direct dig at the Indian management and the BCCI, questioning who would be happy with his retirement and for whom he has turned out to be a block in their paths.
"If someone has a problem, tell me. Whose life will become better if I take retirement?. Have I become a stone in someone's life that you want retirement from me?. The day I get bored, I will leave. You don't pick me, don't play me, I don't care. But I will keep working hard," said Shami to News24.
"Retirement & such decisions are made when you start feeling bored," Mohammed Shami determined to keep contributing to cricket
He further showed a determined attitude to keep working hard and trying his best to make an opening for himself in the Indian team, as he said that he would continue to play some form of cricket even if he is not picked for International matches.
He also bluntly remarked that retirement plans are when the player is not determined enough to follow the discipline for the game and starts feeling bored.
"You don't pick me in internationals, I will play domestic. I will keep playing somewhere. Retirement & such decisions are made when you start feeling bored, when you don't want wake up at 7 am for a Test. That is not the time for me now. I'll be up at 5 if you want me to," Mohammed Shami said boldly.
Mohammed Shami eyeing World Cup 2027
In the same interview from the above-mentioned source, the Indian speedster made his intentions clear, alongside ruling out rumours of any recent retirement plans. The 34-year-old veteran says he eyes the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027.
According to Mohammed Shami's words, the only dream left unfulfilled for him is to win the World Cup for India, and he takes the motivation after having missed it so narrowly in the 2023 CWC. Shami, hence, would work hard to feature for India in the 2027 World Cup, though he would be 37 years old by that time.
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