Duleep Trophy final | If you aren’t self-motivated, your approach is wrong: Shami
Indian pacer Mohammed Shami led East Zone to a Duleep Trophy victory in his 100th First Class match, emphasizing the importance of self-motivation and strategic planning in long-format cricket. Despite his success, his future in the national team remains uncertain following his absence since early 2025.
Why it matters
Shami's performance and comments reflect the dedication required at the professional level and highlight the ongoing selection debates in Indian cricket.
Mohammed Shami had a dream 100th First Class game, ending up with a winner’s medal around his neck, as East Zone clinched the Duleep Trophy here on Thursday.
The India pacer was operating close to his best (16-5-42-2) with both the new and old ball, keeping the South Zone batters on tenterhooks. “As far as satisfaction goes, achieving this in my 100th match — and winning the Duleep Trophy — is special. East Zone has won the trophy after a very long time. The last time we won back-to-back titles, I was part of one of those squads,” said Shami.
Though he took only two wickets, Shami provided breakthroughs at crucial junctures, removing key batters Shaik Rasheed and R. Smaran. He set them up nicely before delivering the final blow.
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