Related Articles
Indian pace spearhead Mohammed Shami has revealed the extreme sacrifices he made to regain full fitness and make a comeback to international cricket. After being sidelined for over a year due to an ankle injury, Shami adopted a rigorous diet and fitness routine to shed extra weight and return to peak form.
Table of content
Shami’s Drastic Diet Change
In a recent interaction with Navjot Singh Sidhu, Shami disclosed that he reduced his diet to just one meal a day, completely cutting out breakfast and lunch—a practice he has now adapted to.
“After 2015, I only have one meal a day. I only have dinner; no breakfast, no lunch. It is very difficult to do such a thing, but once you get used to it, it becomes very easy,” Shami shared.
A Stunning Comeback
The 34-year-old pacer made a dream return in India’s Champions Trophy 2025 opener against Bangladesh, scalping a five-wicket haul and becoming the fastest Indian pacer to reach 200 ODI wickets. His disciplined approach to fitness played a major role in his match-winning performance.
Shedding Nine Kilograms to Regain Fitness
Shami recalled his challenging rehabilitation period at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), where he had to lose nine kilograms to regain match fitness.
“The most difficult thing is you have to challenge yourself. When I was at the NCA, it was a very difficult phase,” he admitted.
At one point, his weight touched 90 kgs, but his strict diet and dedication helped him regain control.
“The best thing about me is that I do not crave delicacies. I stay away from sweets. I stay away from a lot of things—things that generally one shouldn’t eat,” Shami added.
India vs Pakistan – A High-Stakes Clash
Shami will now lead the Indian pace attack in the high-octane encounter against Pakistan on February 23. With India eyeing a semi-final berth and Pakistan fighting for survival, the battle promises to be an intense showdown.
Can Shami continue his red-hot form and lead India to another crucial victory? Fans will be eagerly watching!
