Mai Cricket Chhor Doonga: When Shami Decided To Retire From International Cricket

Recently, Bharat Arun, former India bowling coach, talked about one of the dark chapters in Shami’s life, as probably giving up on the game. The fast bowler has not been seen on the international stage since the very recent ICC ODI World Cup final 2023, and at this time, he is eyeing a comeback into the Indian setup. In the meantime, he is playing the Duleep Trophy for East Zone, which is his only way to make a return to the biggest stage possible. This, however, is not the first time Shami has battled odds. In 2018, his career and personal life crumbled, leaving him almost curled up into a ball and ready to throw it all into the game of cricket.

This is one more revelation for cricket fans, which follows cricket updates on Winexchange. This shows the spirit that defines Shami’s journey-the undeterred persistence in an otherwise brutalizing profession.

 

When Shami Said “Mai Cricket Chhor Doonga”

In 2018, just before India’s tour to England, the world of Shami turned upside down with not just personal problems off the field, but also failing a fitness test ahead of India’s one-off Test against Afghanistan in Bengaluru. That failure cost him a place in the squad. 

According to Bharat Arun, Shami had been devastated and shattered. In fact, he would tell Arun that he was on the verge of walking away from the game completely. “Paaji, Mai Cricket Chhor Doonga” (I will quit cricket), in frustration, told Shami to Arun. 

Arun, having worked very closely with him, reminded Shami that everything he had achieved was because of cricket. He urged him to rethink his decision. But Shami’s frustration was completely genuine, angry, and heartbroken, and by his own words, he had lost sight of the forward pathway.

 

A Motivation from Ravi Shastri

At the time when Shami said “Mai Cricket Chhor Doonga, the Indian head coach Ravi Shastri stepped in. Arun introduced Shami to Shastri, who gave him a straight but very powerful piece of advice: “If you are angry, throw it with the ball. Don’t walk away from the game because of fitness issues. Use your frustration to drive you even harder.” 

Those words resonated within Shami, who opted not to let them crush him but fuel his return.

 

NCA Training – The Turning Point

Without wasting anything in that discussion, the administration sent Shami to the National Cricket Academy (NCA), which completely forbade bowling and only focused on physical conditioning. For three weeks, Shami trained very religiously and devotedly. 

And, the result was amazing. After a stint at the NCA, Shami called Bharat Arun and told him, “Paaji, mai toh abhi ghode ki tarah bhaag raha hoon” (I am running like a horse now). 

This change in fitness not only gave spirit to Shami but also restored his confidence.

 

A Stunning Comeback from England

Soon after, Shami was back in the squad for the England Test series in 2018. He played all five matches, delivering fiery and pinpoint accurate spells. Bharat Arun recalled one moment of glory for the fifth Test at The Oval-after tea on the last day-Shami was still bowling with speeds grasping 140 kmph. That level of matching fitness and intensity was proof of how far he had come from a near-sport-quitting. 

This comeback signified Shami’s second innings in international cricket. He has since then graduated to being India’s most dependable fast bowler across formats, often pulling off game-changing spells in turning point matches.

 

Lessons from Shami’s Journey

For patrons who keep abreast of the latest cricket updates on Winexchange, Shami’s tale turns numbers and statistics into more. It reminds me most about how every athlete goes through some setbacks in their journey. What most matters is how one reacts to such setbacks. 

Shami took his pain and anger and worked hard. It completely changed the direction of his career. His journey captures the importance of mental strength, discipline, and having the right support system in hard times.

Current Focus of Shami: As of today, Shami is again in the phase of trying to make a comeback. Competitive cricket has bypassed Shami since the World Cup final of 2023, and he is now pushing hard to regain his match fitness and his place in the Indian team. Representing East Zone in the Duleep Trophy, Shami appears determined to pen another chapter of his comeback.

From an Indian cricket perspective, his inclusion will prove valuable as major tournaments have been lined up in the years to come. And, for fans, tracking Shami’s progress through reliable cricket updates on Winexchange is a connection to every milestone of his journey.

 

Why Stories Like These Matter for Fans

At Winexch, we connect fans to cricket through real-time updates, insights, and stories that reflect the human side of the sport. That is what players like Shami remind everyone of – cricket stands not by victories inside the ground but also by resilience, character, and the will to rise when it seems everything is lost. 

With scores of millions, Shami would resonate in terms of a revival story, not just from cricket but from life experience. The words Mai Cricket Chhor Doonga from Shami hurts cricket fans. Every human shares a certain commonality, yet the reaction of a person to that very incursion makes them different from another. Shami dominating this is just one of the reasons why he is among India’s finest pace bowlers.

 

FAQs

1. Why was Mohammed Shami omitted from the Indian team in 2018?

A: Mohammed Shami was not selected because of his disappointment with the pre-Test fitness test before the Test match against Afghanistan at Bengaluru. 

2. Who made Shami want to play more, even when he wants to quit?

A: Both Ravi Shastri and Bharat Arun. Arun reminded him of his earlier experience, and Shastri urged Harbhajan to leave everything on the ground while doing whatever he would do.

3: How has Shami’s fitness been after getting thrown out?

A: His training at the national cricket academy was for only three weeks and didn’t require him to bowl, but concentrated on physical conditioning. 

4: From where can I get the latest cricket updates regarding Shami and other Indian players?

A: All cricket updates, news, and highlights about ongoing and past matches can be viewed from Winexchange.