Mohammed Shami came to me and said ‘I want to quit cricket’, reveals ex-India bowling coach

India pacer Mohammed Shami has had a hard-time in his personal as well as professional life. Consequently, he was ready to call time on his cricket career once. In 2018, Shami had failed a Yo-Yo Test ahead of India’s England tour. He was well aware that the test would cost his chances in the upcoming international matches.

Due to fitness issues, Shami lost his place for the England tour and thus, decided to quit from the game. The star pacer had also suffered multiple setbacks earlier due to an injury.

After losing a place in the England tour, Shami spoke with former India bowling coach, Bharat Arun, and expressed his desire to quit cricket due to some personal issues. Arun revealed that, realizing Shami was going through a worst phase, he took him to ex-India head coach Ravi Shastri. While speaking with Cricbuzz, Arun opened up about Shami’s conversation with Shastri which helped him to make a roaring comeback in cricket.

“Just before the 2018 tour of England, we had a fitness test and Shami had failed it. He lost his place in the Indian team. He called me and said he wanted to have a word with me. He was going through a personal turmoil. His fitness was affected, mentally he was gone.

He came to me and said 'I am very angry and I want to quit cricket'. I immediately took Shami to meet Ravi Shastri. Ravi asked what it was and Shami told him the same thing that 'I don't want to play cricket'. Both of us asked 'What will you do if not play cricket?' What else do you know? You know how to bowl when given the ball,” Arun said. 

Being left out from the India squad, Shami was replaced by Navdeep Saini. Shastri urged for the star pacer’s return at any cost. He thus decided to send him to the National Cricket Academy (NCA), in Bengaluru for one month to work on his comeback. Shastri’s plan went well as Shami revived his career within that time.

"So Ravi said 'It's good that you're angry. This is the best thing that has happened to you because you have a ball in hand. Your fitness is poor. Whatever anger it is that you have, take it out on your body. We are going to send you to the National Cricket Academy and want you to go there for 4 weeks and stay there.

You will not go home, and only head to NCA. I still remember the call he made and told me 'Sir, I have become like a stallion.' The 5 weeks that he spent there, he realised what working on fitness can do to him," Arun added.

After spending five weeks at the NCA, he regained his fitness again and was recalled into India's squad for the England series. However, India lost the series by 4-1. Despite the humiliating loss, Shami ended up becoming the second-highest wicket-taker after Ishant Sharma. The speedster picked up a total of 16 wickets for the visitors.

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