Debasis Sen
Q: How eager are you to perform in the Ranji Trophy season, and also the fact that you’ll be playing for Bengal again?
Shami:
“Look, the preparation, the practice, at home, with the boys, the atmosphere, the team bonding, it’s good to see. No one can tell about individual performance, who will perform, who won’t. We are ready to give our 100%. Not just me, the whole team is ready. The preparation is good.”
On personal motivation post-injury:
“I go step by step. I understand that after the injury, I get to play matches, that’s good for me too. If I get to play matches here, it would be good for me too.
On not playing since a long while
“I played the Champions Trophy, IPL, and the Duleep Trophy. But even after that, we’re still practising. So, it’s not like we’re out of touch. We’re practising. We’ll play matches only when we get them.”
On Ajit Agarkar not giving an update on his fitness
“About giving updates, it’s not my responsibility to give or ask for one. It’s not my job to give an update on my fitness. My job is to go to the NCA, prepare, and play matches. Giving an update is not my responsibility.”
On expectations for India’s comeback:
“I always say that you should select the best for your country. It’s about the team and the country. The country should win, we should all be happy. That’s what I always say.
Keep fighting, keep playing games. If you perform well, I think it will benefit you as well. Selection is not in my hands. I can only prepare and play matches.
I’ve no objection, if you don’t select me, then I will come here and play for Bengal. I’ve no issue with it.
Cricket is such a game that you cannot have the same flow or performance 24×7. The performance in the 2023 World Cup was of a different level. After that, I had an injury. But we have a population of 1.5 billion, I also don’t want to play in pain or make the team suffer.
I wanted to come back after the operation and make a strong comeback. I am trying to do the same. I am ready to go whenever they (selectors) want me to go.”
On Rohit and Virat playing the 2027 World Cup:
“There are a lot of aims, but I only say that if you have the potential, you have the performance, you have the skill, you should definitely play.”
On bowling with Akash Deep for the first time:
“Don’t you think we are the best? The bowling unit that we have, especially Akash. I didn’t know if we had played together before.
But he told me that we haven’t played together. That is my first match. I would like to say that we have had a lot of experience.
He is no more a youngster. There is Akash, Mukesh Kumar, Suraj, Kaif, me. If you look at the bowling line-up, we have a very solid domestic bowling line-up.
I hope that this bowling line-up will take our Bengal ahead.”
On how he feels while bowling in the nets:
“I’m very comfortable. I have been practising for two and a half months.
I have been practising ever since I came from the IPL. In between, I also played in the Duleep Trophy. You have seen that I have bowled 35 overs. I don’t have any injury concerns. Everything is normal.
I hope that everything goes well in the upcoming matches. The performance will also be good. Let’s see what happens.”
On Bengal coach L. R. Shukla saying Shami is fitter than he was in the last two years:
“You tell me this, when I look at myself, I am doing my best all the time. Whether you are heavy or overweight, you always feel that you are under control.
But the other person can tell you how lean you are, how much you have worked on your fitness. That is better seen from someone on the outside.”
On the wicket:
“It is hard. It is solid. I hope that our pace attack will be good. Let’s see what happens.”
On the elusive Ranji title and the so-called jinx:
“It’s just the start of the season. Let’s pray that everything goes well for the team. All the players perform well and take Bengal ahead. Hopefully, we make full use of our home matches and take the team ahead.”
On how many matches he will play:
“Make me play! Ask the coach or the selector. I will play as many matches as possible. We will try to take Bengal ahead this season. Hopefully, we will win the trophy.”
On having to prove himself again, how does he stay motivated?
“Don’t get me involved in any controversy. You should understand one thing, as human beings, we should understand that there are 1.5 billion people in our country.
You should also think individually. If you are fit and comfortable, you should go forward.
The most important thing is, if your skill tells you that you can do it, then nobody can stop you.
I don’t think it’s insignificant to play Ranji Trophy. In the old days, Ranji Trophy was a big deal for anyone. But today, you think it’s an ‘insult’ to go back and play junior cricket like Ranji Trophy. I don’t think so. You should play four-day cricket.
If there is a condition that you would be in the team if you perform in Ranji Trophy, then there is nothing wrong in that. No doubt, you should perform.”
On Rohit Sharma’s captaincy being removed and Shubman Gill taking over, surprising?
“No one should question this. It depends on what the selection committee says. It depends on who you talk to and who you give the captaincy to. You should go with the person who has been appointed as the captain. If there is a future plan, we can’t do anything about it.”
On being left out for the Australia white-ball series:
“I have said this before, selection is not in my hands. If there is a fitness issue, I shouldn’t be here. I think I do not need to speak on this. I’ve said this before, if I can play four-dayers, I can also play 50-overs cricket.”
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