Mohammed Shami, one of India’s premier fast bowlers, made his international debut under MS Dhoni, but many of his standout performances came under Virat Kohli’s captaincy. The Bengal seamer shares a close camaraderie with Kohli, both on and off the field, and together they have played pivotal roles in securing crucial wins for India over the years.

Recently, Shami opened up about the origin of his nickname, “Lala”, admitting he still has no idea how it started. He jokingly suggested that Kohli might have been the one to coin it.

Speaking to News 24, Mohammed Shami said, “I also do not know when it became permanent. Virat may have done it. He only does such things. I was just thinking, once, what kind of a name is Lala, even Shahid Afridi had that name. But I did not understand why I had this name. I am not fat… there are people called Lala who do jewelry work, but I don’t do that either. But when you come to the team, you get some names. If you argue, they irritate you more, so I let it be.”

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Mohammed Shami was also asked who is tougher to bowl to in the Indian Premier League (IPL)—Kohli or Rohit Sharma. The 34-year-old lauded both, calling them legends of Indian cricket.

“There has been no batter till now who comes in my dreams or pressures me before a match. It depends on who is set. Both Kohli and Rohit are great players and have made a mark in Indian cricket history,” he said.

He also reflected on the challenge of bowling to Cheteshwar Pujara, calling it particularly tough and expressing gratitude for having shared the Test dressing room with the recently retired Pujara. Shami’s international opportunities have recently been limited. He was left out of India’s squad for the England tour due to fitness concerns and was also excluded from the upcoming Asia Cup squad.

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Looking ahead, Shami aims to make a statement in domestic cricket, representing East Zone in the Duleep Trophy to remind selectors of his skill and resilience. For fans, Shami remains a vital figure in Indian cricket, combining experience, skill, and character, while also giving glimpses of his humorous side off the field.