Former Indian coach breaks silence on how Mohammed Shami almost retired in 2018 due to…

Edited By : Srijal Upadhyay | Aug 29, 2025, 03:55 PM IST

Published On Aug 29, 2025, 03:55 PM IST

Last UpdatedAug 29, 2025, 03:55 PM IST

Former India pacer Bharat Arun reveals Mohammed Shami's fitness struggles in 2018, talks about Ravi Shastri’s support, and eyes a comeback through Duleep Trophy performances.

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Arun revealed that back in 2018, Shami faced mutiple challenges, both on and off the field. After failing a finess test and being dropped from the team, the 34-year-old confided in Arun that he was ready to quit cricket altogether.

“And in 2018, just before the tour of England, we had a match against Afghanistan (Test match in Bengaluru). Shami failed the fitness test, and he was dropped from the team. He was very dejected. He was at the peak of his personal problems as well. So he came to my room and said, ‘Paaji, mai cricket chor doonga’ (I will quit cricket),” Arun said in a podcast with The Times of India.

Support from Ravi Shastri and Bharat Arun

Arun further revealed that it was then head coach Ravi Shastri who motivated Shami to overcome his fitness struggles and stage a successful comeback.

“So I asked him, ‘What are you going to do after quitting cricket? Whatever you are and whatever you have achieved is because of cricket.’ He said he was angry. I took him to Ravi. Ravi said, ‘If you are angry and you have the ball in your hand, show your anger with the ball. You want to quit cricket because your body is not fit?’” Arun added.

“We sent him to the NCA, and the only instruction was to work on him physically, no bowling. Three weeks after we sent him to the NCA, he called me and said: ‘Paaji, mai toh abhi ghode ki tarah bhaag raha hoon‘ (I am running like a horse),” he further stated.

Remarkable Comeback

Shami made a strong return during India’s 2018 England tour, featuring in all five Tests. Despite India’s 4-1 series loss, he impressed by taking 16 wickets in nine innings, showcasing his skill and resilience. Over time, he became a key contributor across all three formats for India.

Current Challenges

However, Shami has recently fallen down the pecking order and is no longer a guaranteed member of India’s squad. He was left out of the Asia Cup team and now must rely on his performances in domestic competitions, including the Duleep Trophy, to catch the selectors’ attention and make a case for a national recall.