India's Mohammed Shami celebrates the dismissal of Bangladesh's Mehidy Hasan Miraz during the ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between India and Bangladesh at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)Mohammed Shami’s five-wicket haul against Bangladesh in India’s opening match in the Champions Trophy shows just how much India missed him during their recent Test series loss against New Zealand and Australia, respectively.
The 34-year-old, who is still far from his best, picked up wickets with the new ball and then came back to break the dangerous-looking 154-run partnership for the sixth between Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali. The standout feature of Shami’s bowling was his trademark upright seam. His nip-backers were sharp, his outswinger deadly, and he repeatedly beat the outside edge with balls zipping around the fourth and fifth stumps.
In an interview with Star Sports, the speedster revealed how much weight he has lost get back into the Indian dressing room.
While interviewing Shami, former India opener Navjot Singh Sidhu asked: “The most difficult job is get off from the debt and losing weight and you have lost 5 to 6 kg weight.”
Indian pacer Mohammed Shami (left) with captain Rohit Sharma (ICC Media Zone)
Shami interrupted Sidhu and said: “Paaji 9 kg giraya hai (I have lost nine kgs).
Shami also opened up about his struggle during the rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and love for Biryani.
“The most difficult thing is that you challenge yourself. When I was at the NCA, my weight was close to 90 kg,” he said.
“Sabse achi cheez kya hai ki meri zubaan jyada chatpati nahi hai (I don’t have this cravings of eating unhealthy food). I stay away from the sweets.
Mohammed Shami celebrates with teammates at the Champions Trophy. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
“And since you are talking about Biryani. Yaar kabhi kabhi cheat meal chalta hai (Once in a while you can have that cheat meal,” he laughed.
Mohammad Shami revealed how in the past ten years, he only takes one meal per day.
“Since 2015 I only eat once in a day. I have skipped breakfast and lunch all these years. I only eat dinner. Its a difficult thing to do but once you get used to it then its easy.,” he said.
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