NEW DELHI: Veteran Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has offered a candid glimpse into his initial days in the Indian cricket team’s dressing room, revealing a mix of awe and nerves that culminated in a memorable, albeit slightly awkward, introduction orchestrated by none other than Yuvraj Singh.
Shami, who had already made his One Day International (ODI) debut against Pakistan in Delhi on January 6, 2013, before his Test debut against West Indies in Kolkata later that year (November 6-8), and his T20I debut against Pakistan in Mirpur on March 21, 2014, described his first experience within the hallowed Indian dressing room as entirely different from his on-field debuts.
Recalling a team meeting held the day before a game, Shami admitted to being overwhelmed by the presence of cricketing legends he had idolized. “The first time I joined the Indian team, I did not know how things were. There was a team meeting a day before the game. When I walked in through the door and looked around, there was not one name that had not come in my dream. I just sat quietly,” Shami shared.
It was during this moment of quiet contemplation that the jovial Yuvraj Singh decided to lighten the mood and formally introduce the new recruit. “Yuvraj Singh asked me to stand on the chair. What can you tell him? So I did that. He told me to give a speech. I had forgotten everything after seeing all the names. I could not say much. I just told my name and where I was from. I could not say more than that as I could not remember anything,” Shami recounted with a chuckle.
This unforgettable initiation marked the beginning of a remarkable career that would see Shami evolve into one of India’s premier fast bowlers, known for his seam movement and ability to generate reverse swing.
Shami Names India’s Funniest Player
Beyond the initial nerves and grand introductions, Shami also offered insights into the lighter side of the Indian dressing room, identifying former India opener Shikhar Dhawan as the team’s resident humorist.
Shami and Dhawan shared several years in the Indian team, with Dhawan gracing 34 Tests, 167 ODIs, and 68 T20Is before his retirement from international and domestic cricket in 2024. According to Shami, Dhawan possessed an uncanny ability to lift spirits, even in moments of defeat.
“Shikhar is very funny. He does those things. Say we lost a match, everyone comes and sits in the change room. Shikhar wants to do something different. He will just laugh very loudly. If I ask why are you laughing, he says because we lost. He does such things. Anytime, he will stand on the table and start dancing to Punjabi music. These things create that atmosphere in the dressing room,” Shami explained on cricketnextofficial.
He added, “We also enjoy it because winning and losing keep happening. When you are playing the whole year, you will win and lose. All these things are there. But no one then goes into a very sad mood in the dressing room.” Dhawan’s antics, Shami suggests, were crucial in maintaining a positive and resilient team environment.
Mohammed Shami’s career statistics speak volumes of his prowess: he has played 64 Tests for India, claiming 229 wickets, including six five-wicket hauls. In 108 ODIs, he has picked up 206 wickets, also featuring six five-wicket hauls. In the shortest format, T20Is, Shami has played 25 matches and secured 27 wickets.
His last appearance for India was against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final in Dubai on March 9, 2025, a match India won by four wickets.
