Mohammed Shami reveals desire to reach next level in his career after winning Duleep Trophy

East Zone ended a 14-year drought by clinching the Duleep Trophy 2026 with a commanding victory over South Zone at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium. The team, led by Ishan Kishan, secured the title on the basis of a first-innings lead after posting 708 runs in their opening innings. Kishan's double-century and Kumar Kushagra's century formed the backbone of East Zone's strong batting display.

Mohammed Shami played a crucial role in East Zone's triumph, taking two important wickets during the title clash. Shami dismissed Ravichandran Smaran and Sheikh Rasheed to disrupt South Zone's middle-order batting. His performance helped restrict South Zone to 336 in their first innings, giving East Zone a decisive first-innings lead of 372 runs.

Shami's match-winning performance in the Duleep Trophy final

Reflecting on the achievement, Shami expressed his ambition to reach the next level in his career. The 36-year-old pacer has been working towards a return to competitive cricket after a prolonged absence from the international stage. His last appearance for India came in June 2023 during the World Test Championship final against Australia at the Oval.

"There are plenty of reasons to stay motivated if you look for them. At this level, if you aren't self-motivated, your approach is wrong. No matter what stage you're playing at, your eyes must always be set on the next level," Shami said after the Duleep Trophy final.

The Duleep Trophy victory held special significance for Shami as it coincided with his 100th first-class match. Playing in the domestic tournament provided him with an opportunity to showcase his skills and prove his fitness ahead of potential future selections. Shami's last first-class outing before the Duleep Trophy final was for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy in November 2024.

"As far as satisfaction goes, achieving this in my 100th match-and that too in a winning Duleep Trophy final-is special. East Zone has won this after a very long time. You've seen how we performed," he added.

"Every single boy put his heart and soul into this campaign to get us here. To achieve this in these conditions, in this heat, is outstanding. As for me, whether it's your first match or your 100th, it doesn't matter-the effort and the approach remain exactly the same," he said.

Shami's recent cricket activity had been limited to the Indian Premier League, where he featured for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2025. He picked up six wickets across nine matches during that season, demonstrating his ability to perform under pressure in high-intensity cricket. The Duleep Trophy final marked a significant step in his journey to reclaim a place in India's Test squad.

Duleep Trophy triumph and first-class milestone

The pacer's performance in the title clash underscored his commitment to excellence regardless of the match's importance or his career stage. His two-wicket haul contributed directly to East Zone's commanding position in the final, helping the team secure the trophy after more than a decade without the title. Shami's display in Chennai reinforced his credentials as a bowler capable of delivering in crucial moments.