[Watch] "The desire to return fuels my strongest self-motivation" - Mohammed Shami sweats it out in the gym
Team India's veteran pacer Mohammed Shami is gearing up for his cricket return after a lengthy injury-forced hiatus. The 33-year-old has remained on the sidelines since the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Much to the delight of Shami's fans, the fast bowler has resumed his training and bowling practice. Taking to his official Instagram handle, the seasoned campaigner shared a video on Wednesday, Jul 24, giving fans a glimpse of his recent gym session.
Shami was seen doing intense training in the gym, aiming for his comeback to competitive cricket. The cricket star captioned the post:
"The desire to return fuels my strongest self-motivation."
Mohammed Shami earned widespread praise for his spectacular performances at the 2023 ODI World Cup. While he did not find a place in India's playing XI for the initial games, he was added to the lineup after Hardik Pandya injured his ankle while playing against Bangladesh.
It proved to be a blessing in disguise for the Men in Blue, as Shami lit up the stage with his stunning bowling exploits. He finished as the leading wicket-taker of the edition, bagging 24 scalps from just seven matches.
Shami underwent an Achilles Tendon surgery earlier this year, which ruled him out of the 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the 2024 T20 World Cup.
"I also dream of winning the World Cup" - Mohammed Shami on India's 2024 T20 World Cup triumph
Team India beat South Africa by seven runs in the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup to clinch the coveted ICC trophy. Mohammed Shami lauded the Indian players for emerging victorious at the showpiece event.
The Rohit Sharma-led Indian team successfully defended a 177-run target in the summit clash. Virat Kohli was adjudged the Player of the Match for his 76-run knock in the final, while Jasprit Bumrah won the Player of the Tournament award.
Expressing his desire to be part of a World Cup-winning squad, Shami said on Shubhankar Mishra's YouTube channel:
"I believe that whoever took part in that competition, whoever was part of the team, deserved to win it. If I’m unfit today and sitting at home, I can only watch the sport as a fan. Those players are my friends and colleagues, I can only let them know what I feel from the outside to help them play better. There isn’t much in our hands. As far as the winners' medal is concerned, I also dream of winning the World Cup."
Mohammed Shami could make his much-awaited return in September, when India lock horns with Bangladesh in a two-match Test series at home.