Unplugged ft. Mohammed Shami | LSG | IPL 2026 | World Cup 2027 | Virat Kohli | Sanjiv Goenka

Delhi, KKR, Punjab, GT, SRH... When you reached Lucknow, did any Lucknowi say, you're late, Mehraba, on your way here? When the world is coming to an end, when it says it's the end, it's the age of 36, does a cricketer fill up the fuel,

that let the IPL come, I'll show it this year,

I'll play in my city, Lucknow. If you look at the Indian bowlers, if there is anyone around me in the IPL, but still I am not a D20 bowler.

That's Shami Basant.

Still I am not a D20 bowler.

You didn't spend on PRWR, is that why all this is happening? It's possible. You didn't spend a single rupee on the car, that's why all this happened? Maybe. Are you still hungry? To win the Purple Cap and to play the World Cup in 2027?

I'm still hungry, I haven't eaten anything since morning. If you give me the ball, only then I can do something. Otherwise, I can only get water from outside.

In 2019 and 2020, did you ever get hurt

and then you fed Shami? And you did the best. 19, 20. Whenever you pick up the ball, I don't play the starting match. I am a bad person to ask this question.

Now it's the 27th workout. The fuel that Shammi got filled in the meantime, this fuel can prove to be a big engine for Lucknow

that this year Lucknow will smile. I think Lucknow has the best domestic attack. Mr. Goenka served you roasted rasgulla? It's shocking that I haven't eaten rasgulla since I've been in Kolkata. In 23-24 years. I tried it once but I squeezed out all the juice and then what's left?

Only gulla is left.

Yeah, that's it. Who? Only the juice is left.

Who does all the hard work? It's funny, I have a habit of it.

Where are you seeing Lucknow this year? Because many of your big teammates haven't rated yet.

By rating someone or giving someone numbers, he doesn't become great.

Which team are you in?

First of all, we keep ourselves.

LSG?

It's LSG, RCB is also good. We have kept our team name as LSG We have kept our team name as LSG I have seen many pictures of Virat Kohli in your house

He is a Bengali, he is a friend, he is a love There was no planning, just a photo was taken for testing He printed everything He is a fan of Virat Kohli You have seen me making home, I'm building a hall where I enter.

Sir, when you build it, don't forget, we'll play a match with you again.

You've been saved once.

I was saved.

You've been saved once. Don't try to take that risk again. There's grass there too. Your boss is very passionate about cricket. If I feel like I can't play, I'm involved in everything. When anyone invests so much in you, to make your team, and fills such a big amount,

then it's normal to have high expectations.

Do you think about retirement or do you not care at all?

The day I get bored of playing cricket, or I feel lazy,

I quit cricket that day.

Cheetah's move, Baas's vision and Mohamed Shammi in the ICC tournament.

We didn't give an introduction because the player we are sitting with doesn't need one.

Mohamed Shammi, how are you? All good. It's God's grace. Hard work is going on.

When I saw you in Lucknow's jersey, I realized that when you reached Lucknow from Delhi, KKR, Punjab, GT, SRH, did any Lucknowi say that you are late, Meherma, on your way here? This is a home team.

Actually, I am not getting time, Meherba. This is a home team. Actually, we don't have time. That's the problem. Because when the match starts, we look for a zone where we can chat. Now, we have a busy schedule. We have practice matches.

Everyone is busy with practice. So, the sooner the shoots wrap up, the better for the boys. Then we'll focus on practice and matches. This question is for all cricket fans. I ask this question like a fan.

What does IPL 2026 mean for Mohamed Shammi?

For me, every IPL and every game is important. I play with the same intensity and hard work. I play every match. It doesn't matter if it's a domestic match, IPL or an international match. You should give your 100% because you shouldn't regret after the match that maybe if I had put in a little effort it could have been better.

Or if it's about win or lose, you shouldn't regret that maybe if I had put in a little more effort or if I had played more naturally it could have been better. So I don't want to go to that zone ever. So it doesn't matter what format you are playing in and when and where. Every ball, every match should be important for you. Because your hard work, the 1% that you leave behind or the 5% that you can increase, those things mean a important for the team

and as far as Lucknow or 2026 is concerned whenever a franchise trusts you I feel you should give more than 100% you should give all your energy so my approach is always the same new year comes, new season comes, new IPL comes.

I always try to prepare and jump and try to give my best. So the hope is that the hard work I have done in domestic, the hard work that is going on now,

the results of that may be in IPL. Chambi bhai, whether it is 2019 World Cup, or 2023 World Cup or the Champions Trophy, I interviewed you last time, you said that you will give me a gain, and that you know how to win wickets.

Look at the stats. The stats are telling me the story. But there are many fans like me who always feel that why don't they see Shami in that way? Sometimes, he got injured and then he was treated.

In 19th and 23rd.

And you treated him the best. I have said this in the interview before. Doesn't it bother you? I have done this many times. This question comes to me a lot. But the thing which is not in your hands,

you don't have to worry about it. I think. So if you are a sportsman, you know that this scene is going to run like this, then you need to be strong. Yes, I will say only one thing,

you can be successful only when you are hungry, you will be hardworking, you will follow the process, then those results come when you are given responsibility. But why Vidshami? I don't know this reason either. You are the purple cap holder in IPL.

You took out the wicket of the match of the year in 2013. New Zealand match of the World Cup semi-final. I couldn't get the 7 wickets that you took out. You are doing 200-200 over in domestic. And then I hear that Shami is not fit. I say that the guy is not fit. I say, man, he's putting in 200 overs. Man, it's not in my hands. Maybe this...

I'm a wrong person to ask this question. So, I don't have an answer to this. But I just want to say one thing that... If there is such a situation, you have to be strong and you have to... I mean, you have to keep working hard. You have to stay in touch with cricket.

So you have to run that circle, you have to take that cycle till there, that whenever you get a chance, you give your best and you have always done that. So I always wait, like you must have seen in my previous interviews,

like 19, 20, you can pick it up anytime, I don't play the starting match.

I am always worried that Shami is not given the first choice of bowler.

When the World Cup ends, he comes out as the highest wicket taker. Maybe I get the result.

So does he fill Shami with fuel?

What can happen? Maybe he pumps me up for four matches.

So he wasn't preparing for the World Cup in 1927. You didn't keep him in 1926 or the border in Gavaskar. So, you'll bring Shammi in 1927 and tell him to do it.

Look, I don't know about that. It's all in God's hands. But yes, I'm working hard. As you saw in the domestic match.

You did a great job in domestic. People were thinking that you won't do 4 overs, but you did 200 overs here.

But when I go to the ground, I always think that if you are in the ground, then you should do your best. Your team expects you to give results. I believe in that and always work hard for that. And I try to do my best. I should be satisfied that if I played this match, I did well or not. If I didn't do well, I try to correct the wrong decisions I made in bowling.

Shammi was a hitter, is a hitter, and will remain a hitter. Shammi doesn't need to prove anything. But still I keep asking this question that When the world is coming to an end, they say it's the end, it's 36, it's over. Does as a cricketer, does it fill the fuel? Let the IPL come, I'll show it this year.

Now I'm playing in my city, Lucknow. It's ours.

Dude, I don't think everyone needs to count the numbers. I think if you have talent and skill, why do you need to judge numbers? You are performing for the team, you are playing on any platform. I don't think you are less than anyone. So there is no need to think about all that. As far as IPL is concerned, you can check the previous records.

If there are any Indian bowlers around me, even in IPL, but still I am not a T20 bowler.

That's Shami. This is Shami Pasand.

Still I am not a T20 bowler. That's fine.

I couldn't understand this. You are a purple cap holder in IPL.

And why don't people consider You can see in the last 5-6 years. You are around 130 wickets. What more will you take from a bowler? So, you didn't spend on PR, that's why all this happened? Maybe. I have seen that if I had good PR, I would have reached. Many players talk about PR in the current times. Look, PR definitely matters a lot in today's life. There are many PR companies.

They do PR. But I believe that as a sportsman or as a normal person, you cannot change luck. I believe in luck. Maybe someone can stop me for a moment, maybe I don't get the game for some time, maybe I am better in this, maybe I am not playing in this gap, if I was playing, I would not have performed well.

So I take a lot of things in a positive way, the things that seem negative, I always take it positively. That it is possible that something good happens for me in this.

Can something good happen for Lucknow in this? Because this was the time of fuel. I remember I did your podcast after the World Cup, after coming home. You said I will go to border Gavaskar. Then the tweet went on for a long time. Then there were many series where India was completely finished in the test. Unfortunately, we are doing very bad in the test.

We are not seeing it in T20. Now only 27 World Cup is coming. So this fuel that Shammi was filled in the meantime, at that time Shammi Bhai tied it in his legs. Now, he is completely fit. Can this fuel prove to be a big engine for Lucknow

that this year Luck Lucknow will be smiling? As a bowler, I will try my best to fulfil the responsibilities given to me by the team. I will try to live up to the expectations. I will always try to do that. No one can change Lucknow, but I think your attitude and way way you play should be good. In any team you are playing, if Lucknow trusts you, I will go 100% for Lucknow. But whenever you are playing, your main thing is your satisfaction.

How satisfied are you? The preparation you have done, the time you have spent for cricket, why you played for so long, you need rhythm. I wasn't looking at all that I was playing looking at the time you have spent for cricket, why you are playing domestic, what rhythm you need. I was not looking at all that I am playing domestic. I was looking at my rhythm is going well.

And when my rhythm is going well, then I start thinking further. That this rhythm, this skill, if I continue now, for example, I played domestic for 2 months, IPL,

whether anyone watches it or not, I will play for the team, it will be good for my body momentum. Because this is such a big platform that you cannot ignore it, you have to stay connected with cricket. So it is very important that the more you play matches, the more you stay on the ground, your body momentum is. Maybe people don't understand that... I don't know, some people do it so that we practice less

or we do it in our own way. But I think the more time you spend on the ground, the more smooth your body momentum is. Mr. Goenka gave you roasted Rasgulla. You've been to Kolkata, you must have eaten there. I don't eat sweets.

I am a little allergic to sweets. I can't eat sweets. But it is shocking that I have not eaten Rasgulla in Kolkata. In 23-24 years. Once I tried a lot, but I squeezed it and took out all its juice. Then what Rasg what was left?

Only the gulab jamun was left.

Yes, I tasted it and it was also bad. I couldn't eat the original gulab jamun, which is famous in Bengal. I couldn't eat it. You know, it's a very sweet gulab jamun. I feel satisfied after seeing it. What else can I do?

Your boss is very passionate about cricket. The way I watch his videos, he also feels like a cricketer and if he can't play, then he is involved in everything. How was the bond with you when you became a part of his team?

All the meetings I have had with him, I have met him a couple of times, till now, he has spoken to me in a very good way, on logic, he has spoken about the team.

And see, when any person invests so much on you, to make his team, he pays such a big amount, then his expectation of being high is a normal thing. It is also permissible. So, if Goenkaji is so possessive about it, then it is not wrong. If he expects you to do this, my player should do this best, then there is no harm in it.

There are many memes, many things that are not right. You can't do that. You can't do that. You can't do that. You can't do that. You can't do that. You can't do that. You can't do that.

You can't do that.

You can't do that. If you want to discuss something, you should discuss it in that way. I am very open in this. I have spoken to Goenkaji a lot. I liked it very much. The way she has spoken, the way she has spoken. But, look, somewhere, something or the other,

you have to do it. You have to do it. I really liked the way he spoke to them. But, sometimes, something happens. As a captain, you get frustrated. As a player, you get frustrated sometimes. So, if something happens and someone is expecting,

there are so many dramas and memes. This meme is a very dangerous thing.

You are also a victim of this. You were also married.

I have been around a lot. I have been around a lot in these things. Now I am used to these things.

People were asking us in your podcast that tell me the truth, is he going to get married? With Mirza ji.

We said no brother, brother. He said it clearly. Brother, we are sitting here for free. What can we do? We will make what we make.

But there was a funny meme about your old team. That Shami Bhai came and his bowling unit also left. Now all the SRH bowlers will play in Lucknow. Lucknow has no shortage of bowlers. There will be no bowlers left.

Look, it's the team's choice. How the team makes their own unit, who their management picks. And I think Lucknow has the best domestic attack. That's what I'm saying. The rest of the team doesn't have a bowler.

You have all the bowlers.

And the internationals they have are also at the top level. So, as a bowling side, it's very impactful. Now you're the big brother in this bowling team. They make me wherever they go. What can I do? But, man... No matter how much we play cricket,

if any youngster, any person wants to discuss, I never ignore them.

I mean, I was interviewing Bharat Arun. So, I felt from what he said that you're giving him his share of right now. By teaching everyone.

He was very happy that his work is done well and Shammi is with him.

Half of the work is done automatically.

Actually, the boys are more frank with me. Mohsin is with me, he lives in my farm and practices there. Avesh has played with me, Mayank has also joined us. Abhakar has opened up a bit, he used to speak very little to me. Prince has joined us. These people talk to me.

So if a player, whether he is a youngster or a senior, it doesn't matter. If he is talking about a skill or if he is talkingster or a senior, it doesn't matter. If you are talking about skill or if you are putting a point to execute, then it is a good thing. Both as a team and as a player, we want to know something. That is a very good thing in this team.

So who do you think is the most curious kid? So many kids have been gathered.

Everyone is gathered. Who is the most troublesome many kids have grown up, your younger brother... All of them have grown up.

Who is the most troublesome? Shami bhai, tell us, how will this swing be?

How will this be?

No, the funniest kid is Risha for me. Because we have played together for a long time. We have spent a lot of time together. So laughing, joking, pulling each other's legs, But there is no one who troubles me like this. The most questionable person. Like, you have to take the whole soul of Ghosh Jaishami Bhai. There is no one who questions like this, but they do. We bowlers do it more.

Mohsin, Avesh, Mayank does it less. Prince, I ask him. There is a lot of talk about Prince. Prince too, but he is hungry. Prince is also hungry. He is hungry to know. He is hungry to do something new. And it should be like that.

If you don't have that hunger at this age, you are left behind. Because there are so many teams and so much talent in all the teams. So you have to do something new and special. If you want to make a name for yourself.

Is there any hunger left in Shami Bhai

to win the Purple Cap and play in the World Cup in 2027? I am still hungry. I haven't eaten anything since morning.

People have made me hungry.

I am always hungry.

I saw Rohit Sharma, he lost weight. Neeta Mani was saying. I am also fat. I am hungry, I want to buy a purple cap this year. I don't want to prove it to anyone. I want the world to know that

I am still the same Mohd. Shami. Who made you the first in the world cup.

Why not? Look at the domestic. I try to be the best when I am playing. If you have this hunger, then your results will be good. So I always want that if I...

When I leave, I should leave peacefully. I shouldn't be like, I have one more year left, or I should play for another two or three years. I'm not going to do that for anything.

Now, RP and Pragyan have come to the selection committee. Ishan Krishan's out-of-the-box selection was done. He performed really well. Many selections were out-of-the-box. Some bold decisions were taken. Does this motivate you to keep performing?

Can you get a call anytime?

It should be. This expectation should be there. Every person should have this idea that if you are a performer, you can be picked anytime.

But you were not given clarity. As far as we know.

Was it annoying? I don't care about it. I have told you in the first interview I am still saying the same thing. It is the fans who care. If you give me the ball, only then I can do something.

Otherwise I can get water from outside. This is what happened in the last interview. I still have the same line. So if you have that ball, you can ask for a wicket. You have been given the ball, So if you have that ball in your hand, you can ask for a wicket.

You have the ball in your hand, you can take the wicket. But if you don't have the ball, how will I take the wicket? But it's not like you are very worried or you are depressed. I am satisfied. I have played cricket for India. Allah has given me a lot. He has given me name, fame, money, everything. So, you will play as much as you are destined to.

I have been lucky for so long. I consider myself lucky that I have played for the country for so many years. 10-11 years. 15-20 World Cup. I have played so many World Cups.11 years. 15 cup, 19 cup, 23 cup. I have played so many world cups. What more can a person do?

So, if you are playing, whenever you pick, do good for the team. Try to do good.

Do you think about retirement or not?

I will take it when I get tired. Have you ever thought about it? Not yet. Neither tired nor retired. Not yet, I won't think about it. Because all these thoughts put you down.

Jimmy Anderson went till 41. I am seeing Peter Siddal, he is still playing in PSL. He is 42-43 years old. Imran Tahir, he is 46 years old.

This gives you motivation that if this point comes in your mind, it means you are tired and if you are tired, it means you are getting bored. I had said this before, the day I get bored to get up in the morning, I will quit cricket. So, I have this in me that the day I get bored of playing cricket, I quit. So, now I am not getting bored, I am enjoying.

I have come back from injury, but the results are good, in a positive way. So, there is no need to think. So, you can play comfortably for 10 years? As much as I want. I don't promise how much I play, but I will play until I am not bored.

Where are you looking at Lucknow this year? Because your big teammates have not rated yet. But you are playing matches.

Look, my talks are not good, you are asking me questions again. People feel bad. By rating someone or giving someone numbers, it doesn't become great. You have to play cricket on the ground.

Will you play well, Mr. Lakshman?

The way the package is made, the way the unit is made, it is looking very good. Even after seeing, and on the field, the energy and unity that is seen in the unit, it looks amazing because it is a young unit. And there is raw pace,

there is impact in batting, there are all things, but at the end of the day, for any team, what happens is that you have to do well on the ground. That's when you get the result. We have, if you look at last year, SRH, we had the biggest bums. What happened? We went down.

So you have to play cricket well there. If you play cricket well, then you score good numbers. Those who are not giving ratings today, will give ratings tomorrow.

They will praise you.

So both these coins are like this, that both my heart and my mind. Which of the four teams are in the last question? See, first of all, we keep ourselves.

LSG.

It's LSG. RCB is also good.

RCB, Virat's team.

KKR and Punjab. I saw a lot of Virat Kohli's pictures in your house. He is a bandi, he is friendship, he is love. Because those memories are such that they are not going to come back in life. I saw a lot of pictures, not one or two, usually people put one. Actually, there was no planning, just a photo was sent for testing. He printed all of them.

He was also a fan of Virat.

Maybe. But all my best memories, you saw at home, I am making a hall where we enter. I will keep it as a museum type, in which all my pictures from start to end will be the best moments. It doesn't matter who is with whom, where is he, whatever I feel is best, I will keep those moments there.

Nice, you do this, then when you make it, don't forget, we will play a match with you again.

Last time you got injured. You are saved once, don't try to take this risk again. The grass is there.

Thank you so much, Shami bhai. Lovely talking to you and best wishes.

Best wishes.

You go and... I will go. Fingercross for 2027.

Thank you.

Till then we will raise our voice and people will say, that how much love is this? I will not say that you are so much PR. People started messaging me, you have taken Shammi bhai's PR. I said, it's not PR, it's love. You will play well, there is love for you.

And that love becomes PR. Nothing happens by someone's saying. You keep working hard. You keep going your way. Because when you, I always say this,

when you become successful, you get 50 people. When you are doing hard work, you don't get 2 people around you. So it is very important that you think about how you have to walk, when you have to walk, with whom you have to walk. Keep looking at this point that how I have to walk, when I have to walk.

Thank you so much, Shubham. Thank you so much, Shubham.

Thank you.