I wondered if I could play again, a 14-month break can pull you down: Mohammad Shami

Hitting the nets, wearing a knee cap and extra layer of protection around his ankle, Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami revealed there were times when he thought his international career was over and he would never get another opportunity to represent his country.

Shami injured his ankle during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in 2023 and was sidelined for almost a year as he battled with self-doubt and a strict rehabilitation process in an attempt to prolong his already distinguished career.

The 34-year-old did make a successful return when featuring in four white-ball fixtures for India against England across the last month and is now set to push his comeback even further when he turns out for his country in their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener against Bangladesh in Dubai, on Thursday.

"From being in great form during the World Cup to suddenly finding myself on the operating table – from that form to being injured was really tough," Shami told the ICC, during an interview.

"My first question to the doctor was 'how many days until I can be back on the field?' I always wondered when I would be able to put my feet on the ground again. Someone who is used to running on the field constantly was now in crutches," he added.

Shami paid tribute to the role his family played during his rehabilitation and said the BCCI had been very supportive of him throughout the process.

"It was the desire to once again represent India on the big stage that drove Shami during the tough times and gave him the strength to push through the pain barrier," he said.

He further added, "After 60 days when they asked me to put my feet on the ground, you won't believe me, but I have never been more scared to put my foot on the ground."

While making his comeback valid, he added: "Courage and passion to play for the country are the biggest motivators, and the desire to wear the India badge on my chest kept me going. You endure the pain and take it one step at a time without complaints or bitterness. The passion for representing my country has brought me this far."