'Not Gambhir or Dravid'; Mohammed Shami reveals the best coach of his career

KOLKATA: Fast bowler Mohammed Shami was one of the key players in India's campaign at the 2023 ODI World Cup. However, cricket experts and fans believe his chances of playing in the 2027 World Cup are slim, with a return to the Indian team looking increasingly unlikely despite his strong performances in domestic cricket.

Shami initially missed out on the national team because of injury. But even after impressing in domestic cricket over the past year, he has not been considered by the selectors. The selection committee reportedly believes he is currently not fit enough for Test cricket.

The 35-year-old last played an international match in March 2025, an ODI. His last Test appearance came in 2023. Now, Shami's response regarding who his all-time favourite coach is has caught everyone's attention. He shared these thoughts during a candid interview with a national media outlet.

"It is very difficult to compare. I didn't play much under Gauti bhai (Gautam Gambhir). I spent a lot of time with Rahul bhai (Rahul Dravid) and Anil bhai (Anil Kumble). But if I have to choose one, I would pick Ravi bhai (Ravi Shastri). The passion and aggression you see from him outside the field are exactly what he brings as a coach," Shami said.

Shami's biggest achievement in an India jersey came during the 2023 ODI World Cup, where he claimed 24 wickets in just seven matches. He also set the record for the most wickets by a bowler in a single World Cup edition. However, the defeat to Australia in the final continues to haunt him.

"That memory is etched in my mind like a picture. My only regret is that we couldn't win the final. I don't think much about the records. Whenever I see photos or reels from World Cups, I remember the ICC tournament matches that I missed because of injuries. Every year, I missed three, four or even five important matches. Sometimes I feel that if I had played those games, I would have been at the top of the wicket charts," he added.