Veteran India pacer Mohammed Shami remained uncertain of his return to the Indian side from the injury but he also mentioned playing for Bengal in domestic cricket before returning to international cricket as well. The veteran speedster underwent surgery earlier this year and has started bowling at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru recently. He last played for India in the heartbreaking ODI World Cup final defeat to Australia in November last year as well.

While being felicitated by the East Bengal Club in Kolkata, Shami said, “It’s difficult to say when I will be back. I am trying hard but hopefully you will get to see me in Bengal colors before I don the India jersey again. I will come to play two-three matches for Bengal and will come fully prepared for it.”

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“We never thought the injury would be this serious. The plan was to address it after the T20 World Cup since we had the IPL and the ICC T20 mega event coming almost back-to-back after last year’s World Cup. But it turned worse during the ODI World Cup itself and I also did not find it right to risk playing on with it. Even the doctors could not fathom that the injury will take such a serious turn and will take so much time to heal,” he further added.

When last seen in action, he enjoyed an incredible 2023 ODI World Cup campaign as he finished as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker with 24 scalps in seven games. However, with the injury, he missed the 2024 IPL season and the T20 World Cup 2024 as well.

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“To tell you frankly, I got tense when South Africa were pulling things back in the final. For a moment memories of our 2023 World Cup final loss returned to haunt me. But luckily Suryakumar Yadav took that great catch to fetch us the cup and it took time to sink in that India have actually won it,” concluded Shami.