‘Hungry, motivated Shami is still one of the best’ Ishan Kishan

East Zone pacer Mohammed Shami. PICS/PTI, BCCI

The fire burns inside Mohammed Shami even after tallying 382 wickets in 99 first-class games, leaving East Zone skipper Ishan Kishan convinced about the pacer's "hunger and motivation" to make an India comeback. Shami played a big role in East Zone's march to the Duleep Trophy final after 14 years, taking five wickets against Central Zone in the semi-final at Bengaluru.

East Zone skipper Ishan Kishan

"He is just one of the best. He has been a legend of this game. He has been doing so well since he started playing for Bengal. He has been picking wickets, giving all his energy and he has done so well for the Indian cricket team also," Kishan told reporters in the pre-match press conference.

‘Age is just a number'

"It's hard to say when it comes to age, I feel age is just a number. If he is working hard it doesn't matter. I see that hunger in Shami bhai because who better than me to judge about hunger right now [hinting at Kishan's time away from Indian cricket team for various reasons].He has been doing so well, especially having him in our team…it gives us a bit of more confidence," Ishan Kishan added.

Always hunting for wickets

South Zone skipper Tilak Varma

At 36, Shami is closer to the end of his career but Kishan said it has not prevented the Bengal man from asking for a few extra overs. "Looking at his efforts as a captain, I felt very nice, because Shami bhai came in, asking me for those extra overs to get the wickets, this is something which always gives confidence to skippers. He also finished with two boundaries, so he is an all-rounder I feel nowadays. So I am very happy to have him in my team," he added.

So what sets apart Shami?

"Looking at Shami bhai this season, I feel he has been very different, how I have seen him in past, but his approach towards the game, his intensity, his energy has been very different," Kishan said.

"It is hard when you are not regularly playing for the Indian team and to again have that same kind of motivation for your domestic games is tough. He has that hunger and that motivation right now. He wants to be part of the Indian squad again and you can see it in him," he added.

South Zone skipper Tilak Varma too showered praise on Shami, but said his side is ready to take on the wily pacer. "It will be a good competition for us playing against Shami bhai. We have seen in the last game how he set up the batters and took that wicket. But we know that we are pretty confident for that challenge," said Tilak.

14
No of years since East Zone reached the Duleep Trophy final; East beat Central by first-innings lead in 2012

5
No of wickets claimed by Mohammed Shami in the Duleep Trophy semi-final against Central Zone

382
No of wickets claimed by Mohammed Shami in 99 first-class games

462
No of wickets claimed by Mohammed Shami in 197 matches for India across formats

100
The Duleep Trophy final against South Zone will be Mohammed Shami's 100th first-class game

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