Mohammed Shami recently added another chapter to his decorated domestic career by helping his side win the Duleep Trophy 2026. Despite having spent more than a decade playing at the highest level, the veteran pacer showed that his hunger for success remains as strong as ever.
Shami also opened up about the importance of domestic cricket, his approach to bowling in challenging conditions, and his experience mentoring young players, including teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
‘When you wear that crest on your chest, the level of cricket doesn’t matter’
For Shami, representing his team remains a matter of pride regardless of the level of cricket. The Bengal pacer explained that wearing the team crest is enough to bring out the required intensity and motivation.
“When you wear that crest on your chest, the level of cricket doesn’t matter. If you play for the badge, that hunger will naturally show. Your willingness to fight only grows when you play with that pride. My mindset is simple: whichever level I get an opportunity to play, I want to make it count and fulfil my responsibility toward the team,” Shami said after the match.
That mentality was evident during the Duleep Trophy campaign as the experienced fast bowler played an important role in his team’s title-winning run.
Shami enjoys mentoring Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
One of the other aspects Shami enjoyed during the tournament was sharing the dressing room with younger players. The veteran pacer particularly spoke about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has already made a name for himself despite being only a teenager.
“I thoroughly enjoyed it. The kid in our team (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi) is literally as old as my career. He has that youthful innocence, loves to joke around, and absorbs things quickly,” Shami added.
However, the experienced campaigner believes senior players should be careful not to over-coach youngsters. According to Shami, modern-day cricketers are exposed to high-pressure situations from a very young age through tournaments such as the IPL.
“But most of these youngsters are already quite mature. With the level of cricket they play today-featuring in the IPL and other high-pressure tournaments-maturity comes early, so you don’t need to over-coach them.
“But yes, when the game gets tight and challenging, that’s when you step in with tactical inputs and remind them to keep fighting,” he added.
Shami reveals how he adapted to Chennai conditions
Fast bowlers had to deal with demanding conditions during the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai, with the heat and humidity making life particularly difficult.
Shami, however, relied on his experience and focused on executing the basics rather than searching for something extraordinary.
“I’m always learning. In conditions like these, you can’t expect much conventional swing, and the bounce was quite low. In Bengaluru, conditions favoured the bowlers far more, so coming here was a stark contrast.
“So, my approach was strictly about sticking to my line and length, and that’s where I try to create wickets. And honestly, if you can’t exploit reverse swing in this kind of heat, what’s the point?,” he noted.
His ability to adapt was particularly visible in his dismissal of Rasheed. Shami carefully set up the batter by repeatedly taking the ball away before producing one that came sharply back in.
“In conditions like this, it turns into a completely different tactical battle. When conditions are in your favour, executing plans is straightforward. The real test is when conditions don’t suit you and that’s when your skill is tested in its purest form.
“Wickets don’t just happen out of nowhere, especially on tracks like these. The plan was to keep taking the ball away from him (Rasheed), build that expectation, and then bring one back in sharply to trap him. That’s precisely how it unfolded,” he explained.
Shami targets next level after Duleep Trophy win
‘My job is simply to put in the hard work’
At this stage of his career, Shami’s performances continue to attract plenty of attention. His sharpness during the Duleep Trophy has also reminded fans of what the experienced Indian pacer can still offer.
The 2026 Duleep Trophy triumph provided Shami with another opportunity to prove that experience remains one of his biggest strengths. More importantly, his words highlighted the mindset that has kept him competing at the highest level for so long.
“It feels wonderful to receive so much love and support. I am truly grateful from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has supported me along the way.
“My job is simply to put in the hard work-the rest is in the hands of the Almighty,” Shami concluded.
