‘Literally as old as my career’: Why Mohammed Shami was impressed by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (2nd from R) and Mohammed Shami (R) during the Duleep Trophy. (PTI photo) NEW DELHI: Mohammed Shami may be in the latter stages of his career, but the veteran pacer believes young Indian cricketers are coming in with a maturity level that means they need less coaching and more timely guidance.Shami, who has not played for India since March 2025 and last appeared in a Test during the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval, spoke about mentoring youngsters after helping East Zone win the Duleep Trophy final against South Zone.Among those who caught his eye was Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, a teenage batsman who was part of the East Zone unit.

‘That kid on our team is literally as old as my career’

“I thoroughly enjoyed it. The guy in our team (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi) is literally as old as my career. He has a youthful innocence, likes to crack jokes and absorbs things quickly,” Shami said.The 36-year-old believes that the exposure that young players get today, especially through the IPL and other high-pressure competitions, has accelerated their development.“But most of these youngsters are already quite mature. With the level of cricket they are playing today – playing in the IPL and other high-stakes tournaments – maturity comes early, so you don’t have to overtrain them,” he said.“But yes, when the game is tight and challenging, that’s when you intervene with tactical inputs and remind them to keep fighting,” he added.Shami’s own motivation, meanwhile, remains undiminished despite his prolonged absence from India colours.“There are plenty of reasons to stay motivated if you’re looking for them. At this level, if you’re not self-motivated, your approach is wrong. No matter what stage you’re playing, your eyes must always be set on the next level,” he said.

Shami celebrates 100th first-class title game

Shami took two crucial wickets to dismiss Ravichandran Smaran and Sheikh Rasheed as East Zone clinched the Duleep Trophy title on the back of a first innings lead. The triumph also coincided with his 100th first-class appearance.“In terms of satisfaction, to achieve this in my 100th game – and also in a winning Duleep Trophy final – is special. East Zone won it after a very long time. You saw how we performed.”“Every single lad has put their heart and soul into this campaign to get us here. To achieve it in these conditions, in this heat, is outstanding. As far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t matter if it’s your first game or your 100th – the effort and attitude remains exactly the same,” he said.Shami also emphasized that the level of cricket does not change his approach.“When you wear that crest on your chest, the level of cricket doesn’t matter. If you’re playing for a badge, that hunger naturally comes through. Your willingness to fight only grows when you play with that pride.”“My mindset is simple: at whatever level I get the opportunity to play, I want to make it count and fulfill my responsibility to the team,” he said.