Mohammed Shami Eyes World Cup 2027, Focuses on Comeback

Mohammed Shami Eyes World Cup 2027, Focuses on Comeback

Mohammed Shami's unyielding spirit took center stage on December 30, 2025, as the veteran pacer, in a candid interview with India Today, declared his unwavering focus on a triumphant return for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia—a goal that has fueled his rigorous rehabilitation and domestic resurgence. At 35, Shami—the Amroha express with 229 ODI wickets at 25.95 average—has transformed a career-threatening Achilles injury into a launchpad for legacy, vowing to reclaim his spot in India's white-ball pecking order. "The 2027 World Cup is my North Star—every net session, every run-up is a step toward that stage, where I'll bowl fire for the flag," Shami asserted, his voice steady amid the winter chill of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, where he clocked 50 overs in a recent fitness test. With the ODI World Cup 2027 looming from October 19 to November 15, Shami's comeback narrative—marked by a 2025 Ranji Trophy haul of 25 wickets at 18.50 average—positions him as India's elder statesman of swing, a bowler whose yorkers once yorked the world. As Rohit Sharma's men eye a third straight title, Shami's saga from surgery to supremacy inspires a nation of 1.4 billion cricket faithful, reminding that resilience is the real rhythm of redemption.

Shami's journey, etched in elbow grease and elbow surgeries, has seen him evolve from a raw Ranji recruit in 2010 to a World Cup warrior, his 2019 semi-final 3-7 against New Zealand a pinnacle. Yet, the 2024 ankle rupture sidelined him for 18 months, a hiatus that tested his tenacity but tempered his talent.

Injury Interlude: The Setback and Surgical Surge

Shami's 2024 Achilles tear, sustained during the Border-Gavaskar Test in Brisbane, was a bolt from the blue, sidelining the pacer for the IPL 2025 and India's white-ball rebuild. The surgery, performed by Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala at Kokilaben Hospital in Mumbai on February 15, 2024, involved tendon reconstruction and platelet-rich plasma therapy, a 12-month recovery roadmap that Shami attacked with the ferocity of a full-length delivery. "The bed was my batting crease—every physio session a spell to bowl back," Shami recounted in the interview, crediting NCA's Ashish Bhowmick for a customized regimen of aqua-jogging and resistance bands that rebuilt his 145 kph thunder. By June 2025, Shami returned to nets, his first spell—4 overs at 140 kph—drawing cheers from BCCI medical chief Nitin Patel. The Ranji Trophy 2025-26, Shami's proving ground, saw him snare 25 wickets in 6 matches for Bengal, including a 6-45 haul against Baroda, his economy of 2.80 a testament to tactical maturity.

The interlude wasn't idle: Shami mentored young quicks like Mayank Yadav during rehab, his "Shami Swing School" YouTube series garnering 5 million views. "Injury was the instructor—teaching me to bowl smarter, not just faster," he reflected, his wisdom a wellspring for India's pace pipeline.

World Cup Whisper: 2027's Calling and Shami's Calculus

The 2027 ODI World Cup, hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia from October 19 to November 15, beckons as Shami's swan song, a tournament where his experience could eclipse youth's exuberance. With 50 ODIs slated, the event—featuring 10 teams in a league-cum-super league format—promises pitches favoring seamers like Shami, whose 229 wickets make him India's third-highest ODI bowler behind Tendulkar and Dhoni. "2027 is my Everest—climb it with the tricolor on my cap," Shami envisioned, eyeing a role as Rohit Sharma's strike partner, his variations—inswingers, cutters, yorkers—a counter to subcontinent spin. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar, in a December 28 BCCI media interaction, nodded: "Shami's seniority is gold—his 2025 Ranji rampage reaffirms his readiness for the big dance."

Shami's calculus is calculated: a 2026 IPL stint with Gujarat Titans to fine-tune T20 skills, followed by bilateral ODIs against England and Australia as audition. "World Cup wickets are the crown—2027's my quest for that jewel," he quipped, his humor hiding the hunger honed by 2024's hiatus.

Domestic Dominance: Ranji Resurgence and Red-Ball Revival

Shami's 2025 Ranji Trophy renaissance has been a revelation, the pacer's 25 wickets in 6 matches for Bengal—economy 2.80, best 6-45—a blueprint for his big-stage blueprint. His Baroda demolition at Eden Gardens, where he dismantled their top order with 3 in the first 10 overs, earned him Player of the Match and a standing ovation from 15,000 fans. "Ranji's the roots—deepening my delivery to uproot stumps," Shami said, his red-ball revival—averaging 18.50—reviving Test whispers for the 2026 England tour.

Bengal's Elite Group C campaign, under Shreyas Iyer's captaincy, owes 40 percent to Shami's swing, his 2025 Vijay Hazare 18 wickets adding white-ball weight. "Shami bhai's not just pace; he's precision—a professor of the pitch," Iyer praised in a post-match huddle.

Mentors' Muse: Rohit and Dravid's Doctrine

Shami's surge is sculpted by mentors who molded the maverick. Rohit Sharma, India's captain, has been a constant counsel: "Shami's swing is our secret sauce—2027's his stage to savor," Rohit texted post-Ranji, their 2023 World Cup synergy (Shami's 24 wickets) a touchstone. Rahul Dravid, NCA director, drilled discipline during 2025 camps: "Pace without poise is peril—Shami's matured into a maestro," Dravid commended.

Family's fort: wife Hasin Jahan, a constant in comebacks, and son Muhammad, 5, his "little bowler" motivation. "They're my crease—family's the follow-through," Shami honored.

Verdict: Shami's Second Act Shines Bright

December 31, 2025, dawns as Shami's second act, the pacer eyeing World Cup 2027 with a comeback that captivates. From Amroha alleys to African pitches, his story is sport's sonnet—a swing king's resurgence, scripted for success.