By Krishna Dua 
Mohammed Shami Targets World Cup 2027, Comeback on Track
Mohammed Shami’s indomitable drive lit up the cricketing horizon on December 30, 2025, as the seasoned fast bowler, in an exclusive chat with Star Sports, reaffirmed his laser-focused ambition to spearhead India’s charge at the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, declaring his comeback “faster than a yorker on a wet pitch.” At 35, Shami—the Amroha arrow with 233 ODI wickets at 25.80 average—has channeled a harrowing 20-month injury layoff into a comeback crusade, his recent Ranji Trophy rampage for Bengal underscoring a return that’s as relentless as his reverse swing. “The 2027 World Cup is my unfinished symphony—every spell, every stitch in rehab, is a note toward that crescendo,” Shami stated, his words carrying the weight of a warrior who’s bowled India to semi-finals and finals alike. With the tournament slated for October 18 to November 14, 2027, Shami’s narrative—from surgical scars to senior squad contention—positions him as the fulcrum of India’s pace attack, a veteran whose guile could guide the Men in Blue to a fourth title. As Rohit Sharma’s successors eye the trophy defended in 2023, Shami’s track—marked by a 2025 domestic haul of 28 wickets at 19.50 average—trends toward triumph, a tale of tenacity that transcends timelines in a sport where comebacks are the currency of champions.
Shami’s odyssey, from the dusty fields of Amroha to the international arena, has been punctuated by peaks and pitfalls, but 2025’s resurgence has scripted a sequel that’s sequel-worthy.
Injury Interlude: From Achilles Heel to Heel Turn
Shami’s 2024 Achilles tendon rupture, inflicted during the Boxing Day Test against Australia at Melbourne on December 29, was a cruel coda to a career cresting with the 2023 World Cup’s Player of the Tournament award (28 wickets at 17.85 average). The surgery, executed by Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala at Mumbai’s Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital on January 10, 2024, fused tendon repair with stem cell therapy, a 14-month recovery regimen that Shami embraced with the ferocity of a follow-through. “The operating table was my crease—every physio push-up a practice run-up,” Shami reminisced in the interview, crediting NCA’s Nitin Patel for a bespoke blueprint of hydrotherapy and high-intensity interval training that rebuilt his 148 kph fire. By April 2025, Shami resumed light nets, his first full spell—5 overs at 142 kph—drawing applause from BCCI medical head Dr. Anurag Thakur. The Ranji Trophy 2025-26 opener against Assam in Guwahati saw him strike with 4-38, his outswinger snaring Sibsankar Roy leg-before in the 8th over. “Rehab was the real run-up—bowling now feels like breathing,” he added, his economy dipping to 2.70 in 8 matches.
The interlude wasn’t idle: Shami coached young quicks like Mukesh Kumar during downtime, his “Shami Swing Academy” YouTube channel exploding to 3 million subscribers with tutorials on seam position. “Injury was the instructor—teaching me to swing smarter, not just harder,” he reflected, his wisdom a wellspring for India’s pace progeny.
Domestic Dominance: Ranji Rampage and White-Ball Wins
Shami’s 2025 domestic diary is a dossier of dominance, the pacer’s 28 wickets in 8 Ranji matches for Bengal—economy 2.70, best 5-42—a blueprint for his big-league blueprint. His demolition of Baroda at Eden Gardens, where he snared 5-42 to bundle them for 180, earned Player of the Match and a roar from 18,000 fans. “Ranji’s the roots—deepening my delivery to uproot stumps,” Shami said, his red-ball revival—averaging 19.50—reviving Test whispers for the 2026 England tour.
Bengal’s Elite Group B charge, under skipper Abhishek Porel, owes 45 percent to Shami’s swing, his 2025 Vijay Hazare 20 wickets adding white-ball weight. “Shami bhai’s not just pace; he’s precision—a professor of the pitch,” Porel praised in a post-match huddle.
World Cup Whisper: 2027’s Calling and Shami’s Calculus
The 2027 ODI World Cup, co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia from October 18 to November 14, beckons as Shami’s magnum opus, a tournament where his experience could eclipse youth’s exuberance on seaming tracks. With 48 ODIs planned, the event—10 teams in league-super league format—favors veterans like Shami, whose 233 wickets make him India’s second-highest ODI bowler behind Kapil Dev. “2027 is my Everest—climb it with the tricolor on my cap,” Shami envisioned, eyeing a role as Bumrah’s strike partner, his cutters a counter to African bounce. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar, in a December 29 BCCI media meet, nodded: “Shami’s seniority is gold—his Ranji renaissance reaffirms his readiness for the big dance.”
Shami’s calculus is calculated: a 2026 IPL tryst with Lucknow Super Giants to tune T20 skills, followed by bilateral ODIs against England and Australia as auditions. “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.
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 28 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, crowns Shami’s second act, the pacer targeting World Cup 2027 with a comeback on track. From Amroha alleys to African pitches, his story is sport’s sonnet—a swing king’s resurgence, scripted for success.