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'I don't pay attention to the result. I pay attention to the present. And I always try to meet the situation that is in demand.'
A difficult and painful injury layoff firmly behind him, seasoned India pacer Mohammed Shami says attention to detail and loyalty towards his craft make him lethal in ICC events, where he only cares about breakthroughs and not his economy rate.
Shami grabbed a brilliant five-wicket haul in India's Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh to play a pivotal role in the team's six-wicket victory.
In the process, he also became the fastest Indian and the second quickest overall to reach 200 ODI wickets in Dubai on Thursday night.
"In ICC events, if my ball gets hit a little, that's okay, but I should get a wicket, then that will be better for my team. I always think about this," Shami said at the post-match press conference.
The 34-year-old quick battled a career-threatening 14-month layoff due to an ankle injury during the 2023 ODI World Cup. He returned to international action last month in the limited-overs series against England and is now leading India's attack in the absence of an injured Jasprit Bumrah.
"I just try to complete my skill with utmost loyalty; like I have completed my 14 months. How loyal are you to that skill? How hungry are you to achieve your goal, how you will get that rhythm again? You should be hungry," said Shami, when asked about his love affair with ICC events
While wrecking Bangladesh in Dubai Shami became India's leading wicket-taker in 50-over ICC events. His tally now stands at 60, overtaking former India pace spearhead Zaheer Khan.
The retired left-arm seamer had taken 59 wickets in 32 innings while Shami crossed the mark in just his 19th innings. He has 55 wickets in ODI World Cups across three editions, 24 coming in the 2023 tournament hosted at home.
Shami said he always focusses on minor details, like rhythm and level of discomfort while bowling, to understand where he stands in terms of his form.
"Is your rhythm good? Do you have any discomfort? I pay attention to those things. I don't pay attention to the result. I pay attention to the present. And I always try to meet the situation that is in demand. Am I good at that or not?"
Shami, who claimed his sixth ODI fifer in Thursday’s Champions Trophy outing, also has the most five-wicket hauls for India in the format.
He recalled the frustration he felt while watching India's woes in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last month when Bumrah shouldered the enormous burden of leading the attack without him at the other end.
"It was very difficult. When you see that your team is very close to the edge, or it's a very close match, at that time you miss your bowlers who you used to bowl along with, or your unit. I wish I was there.
"I could have contributed something.... could have helped."
Shami has been candid enough to admit that the injury left him devastated to the extent that he feared he wouldn't be able to play again. But the pacer said once he made a domestic comeback towards the end of 2024, his confidence rose again.
"I got to play domestic matches to gain confidence and to see my rhythm. To see what changes have come in the last 14 months or after the surgery. I got four international matches to play and I played 8-9-10 domestic matches. That gave me a lot of confidence."
All set for Pakistan clash
Sunday will see the proverbial show-stopper of ICC events, when India takes on Pakistan, hoping to add another exciting chapter to the rivalry that is almost always the marquee match.
Shami said nothing changes for his team in terms of mindset.
"After winning, there is no point in having a mindset. You should stay in the same frame when you win a match and when you perform well. I don't think you need to think too much about the ICC tournament or any international match," he said, down-playing the giddy excitement that media drums up before India-Pakistan matches.
"You should believe in your skills and back yourself. I always work on these two things that I believe in myself and back myself. So, it's not a matter of mindset to change. If you don't change in difficult times, then you don't change in such times."
Social media doesn't matter
Another aspect of modern cricket that Shami dismissed as insignificant is the social media scrutiny that the players face.
"I always say that the social media of today is such that you create some unwanted things. You always run things in the media that shouldn't run. So I don't think we should think too much."
He dedicated his performance to his late father, Tousif Ali, a farmer who had tried his hand at fast bowling in his youth.
"That is for my father because he is my role model. He was always there for me."
He also thanked the Indian team management for backing him.
"Whether it's a question of the captain or the coach, it's very important for every player to have this support; if you have players who trust you, it gives you peace of mind.
"The responsibility that I have been given, the role that I have been given, whether I am able to fulfil the responsibility that has been given to me, I always try to find that out."