NEW DELHI: Mohammed Shami may be in the latter phase of his career, but the veteran pacer believes young Indian cricketers are arriving with a level of maturity that means they need less coaching and more timely guidance.Shami, who has not played for India since March 2025 and last featured in a Test during the World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval in 2023, spoke about mentoring youngsters after helping East Zone win the Duleep Trophy final against South Zone.Among those who caught his attention was Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the teenage batter who was part of the East Zone squad.
‘The kid in our team is literally as old as my career’
“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 said.The 36-year-old believes the exposure young players receive today, particularly through the IPL and other high-pressure competitions, has accelerated their development.“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,” he said.“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’s own motivation, meanwhile, remains undiminished despite his prolonged absence from India colours.“There are plenty of reasons to stay motivated if you look for them. At this level, if you aren’t self-motivated, your approach is wrong. No matter what stage you’re playing at, your eyes must always be set on the next level,” he said.
Shami celebrates 100th first-class game with title
Shami took two important wickets, dismissing Ravichandran Smaran and Sheikh Rasheed, as East Zone secured the Duleep Trophy title on the basis of a first-innings lead. The triumph also coincided with his 100th first-class appearance.“As far as satisfaction goes, achieving this in my 100th match—and that too in a winning Duleep Trophy final—is special. East Zone has won this after a very long time. You’ve seen how we performed.“Every single boy put his heart and soul into this campaign to get us here. To achieve this in these conditions, in this heat, is outstanding. As for me, whether it’s your first match or your 100th, it doesn’t matter—the effort and the approach remain exactly the same,” he said.Shami also stressed that the level of cricket does not change his approach.“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,” he said.
