Mohammed Shami has made it clear that his absence from the Indian team has not diminished his ambition. At 36, the experienced fast bowler continues to push himself on the domestic circuit, with a return to the national side still firmly among his goals.
The victory also carried personal significance for Shami, who featured in his 100th first class match and contributed two wickets. ‘There are plenty of reasons to stay motivated if you look for them. At this level, if you aren’t self-motivated, your approach is wrong.
Shami’s latest statement came after East Zone secured the Duleep Trophy 2026 title against South Zone. The final ended in a draw, but East Zone were crowned champions after taking a commanding 372 run first innings advantage. No matter what stage you’re playing at, your eyes must always be set on the next level,’ Shami said after East Zone won Duleep Trophy 2026 title.
Rather than allowing his prolonged absence to affect his outlook, Shami believes the motivation to improve has to come from within. He also insisted that the level of competition does not change the responsibility attached to representing a team. East Zone’s Duleep Trophy triumph therefore provided Shami with both a team achievement and a personal milestone.
Shami has been outside the Indian squad since March 2025 and has also gone more than three years without appearing in a Test for the country. His most recent red ball appearance for India came in the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval. After reaching 100 first class appearances and helping his side lift the trophy, the fast bowler’s message remains straightforward: keep working, keep improving and continue aiming for the next level.
