India’s World Cup hero in the 2023 edition, fast bowler Mohammed Shami, hasn’t been in the selectors’ scheme of things since March 2025, but his East Zone captain Ishan Kishan feels the pacer has hunger in him for an India comeback. Shami last featured for India during the triumphant 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai, and hasn’t been picked for any format since. Ahead of the Duleep Trophy final, which also happens to be Shami’s 100th first-class match, Kishan praises the Indian veteran. &nbsp;Kishan -- a mainstay in India’s T20I side -- said that for Shami, age is just a number. Showing confidence in Shami’s presence in the playing XI, Kishan said he brings a lot of experience to the table. &nbsp;"I feel age is just a number," Kishan said ahead of the Duleep Trophy in Chennai.&nbsp; &nbsp;"If he is working hard, it doesn't matter - he has been doing so well. Having him in our team, it gives us a bit of more confidence when you have such bowlers in your team who can get you wickets and especially looking at Shami bhai this season, his intensity, his energy has been very different,” he said.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ishan-kishan-tilak-varma-duleep-trophy-final-afg-t20is-format-switch-1788614605122">'Switching formats is tough but no excuses': Kishan, Tilak ready for AFG T20Is days after Duleep Trophy final</a> &nbsp;Kishan said Shami has that hunger in him, and is motivated to press his case for an India return, considering India would need experience in the pace attack at the ODI World Cup.&nbsp; &nbsp;"It has been three years since that [2023] World Cup [when he was in excellent form]; 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; it is tough. But I feel I see that hunger in him because who better than me can judge about hunger right now?” he said.&nbsp;"I think he has that hunger and that motivation right now. He wants to do that comeback; he wants to be part of the Indian squad again, and which you can see in him when he is trying to help me, also when I'm leading the side... he is trying to come to me, give me options of what you can do right now,” he concluded. &nbsp;Kishan will lead East Zone against Tilak Varma’s South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai.&nbsp;

"Who better than me to judge hunger?" Ishan Kishan backs veteran pacer Mohammed Shami for an India comeback ahead of his milestone 100th first-class match in the Duleep Trophy final.

India’s World Cup hero in the 2023 edition, fast bowler Mohammed Shami, hasn’t been in the selectors’ scheme of things since March 2025, but his East Zone captain Ishan Kishan feels the pacer has hunger in him for an India comeback. Shami last featured for India during the triumphant 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai, and hasn’t been picked for any format since. Ahead of the Duleep Trophy final, which also happens to be Shami’s 100th first-class match, Kishan praises the Indian veteran. Kishan -- a mainstay in India’s T20I side -- said that for Shami, age is just a number. Showing confidence in Shami’s presence in the playing XI, Kishan said he brings a lot of experience to the table. "I feel age is just a number," Kishan said ahead of the Duleep Trophy in Chennai. "If he is working hard, it doesn't matter - he has been doing so well. Having him in our team, it gives us a bit of more confidence when you have such bowlers in your team who can get you wickets and especially looking at Shami bhai this season, his intensity, his energy has been very different,” he said. Also read| 'Switching formats is tough but no excuses': Kishan, Tilak ready for AFG T20Is days after Duleep Trophy final Kishan said Shami has that hunger in him, and is motivated to press his case for an India return, considering India would need experience in the pace attack at the ODI World Cup. "It has been three years since that [2023] World Cup [when he was in excellent form]; 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; it is tough. But I feel I see that hunger in him because who better than me can judge about hunger right now?” he said. "I think he has that hunger and that motivation right now. He wants to do that comeback; he wants to be part of the Indian squad again, and which you can see in him when he is trying to help me, also when I'm leading the side... he is trying to come to me, give me options of what you can do right now,” he concluded. Kishan will lead East Zone against Tilak Varma’s South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai.

"Who better than me to judge hunger?" Ishan Kishan backs veteran pacer Mohammed Shami for an India comeback ahead of his milestone 100th first-class match in the Duleep Trophy final.

'He has that hunger for India comeback': Ishan Kishan hails Mohammed Shami ahead of Duleep Trophy final

Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma -- India’s T20I mainstays -- will be up against each other as captains of East and South Zone, respectively, in the Duleep Trophy final starting Sunday (Sep 6) at Chepauk in Chennai. While they have plenty riding on their shoulders ahead of the marquee clash, switching formats and style of play remains their primary concern. As India will face Afghanistan across three T20Is starting Sep 13 in Delhi, three days after the last day of the Duleep Trophy final, the two addressed the challenges of switching their game quickly. &nbsp;Apart from Kishan and Tilak, batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who opens for East Zone, will also be part of the T20I squad for the Afghanistan series.&nbsp; &nbsp;Kishan said it’s never easy to switch formats this quickly. The East Zone captain, who plays in the middle order in domestic cricket but opens for India in T20Is, explained its challenges.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-ioa-bcci-cricket-logistics-1788598143640">Asian Games 2026: IOA tells BCCI 'no special treatment' for cricket, asks board to handle own logistics</a>&nbsp;"I don't know. How do I tell you? It's just about knowing what format you are playing," Kishan said on the eve of the Duleep final at Chepauk. "Sometimes it gets difficult when you are playing a Test match and suddenly you have to go and start hitting from ball one and suddenly you have to go back to your domestic team and you have to play a whole different role. But at the same time, I feel, as professionals it's our job to adapt, we cannot be coming up with excuses after knowing this is like your routine for next few days. &nbsp;"So, it is better not to be in a situation where we have to make excuses, but at the same time be aware and be just mindful of what is going to happen, and I will be playing T20 after this. So, my job will be different [in T20Is], but still I feel we are getting two days of practice before the Afghanistan first game, so it will be more than enough, I feel,” Kishan said ahead of the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai.&nbsp; &nbsp;On the other hand, Tilak, who has frequently switched formats in recent months, also expressed similar concerns, adding that though all players are quick to adapt to the conditions, going from five-day cricket to a 20-over game isn’t the easiest option. &nbsp;"We have played enough domestic games; we have played in every condition, so we can adjust to the conditions," Tilak Varma said.&nbsp; &nbsp;"But it will be slightly challenging playing five days here and again joining the [T20I] team. But from here we are going to Delhi; there will be two days of break, so we can practice there and we have enough time as well, but it will be slightly challenging. We know how to change our mindsets and maintain our body with good fluids and everything, so we have played back-to-back games before in the domestic as well and international, so we are quite used to it,” he added. &nbsp;Meanwhile, the 2026 Duleep Trophy final will see two top and star-studded teams facing off for the coveted prize, with several A-listers ready to grace the occasion.&nbsp;

Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma react to leading East Zone and South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final just days before India's T20I series against Afghanistan.

Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma -- India’s T20I mainstays -- will be up against each other as captains of East and South Zone, respectively, in the Duleep Trophy final starting Sunday (Sep 6) at Chepauk in Chennai. While they have plenty riding on their shoulders ahead of the marquee clash, switching formats and style of play remains their primary concern. As India will face Afghanistan across three T20Is starting Sep 13 in Delhi, three days after the last day of the Duleep Trophy final, the two addressed the challenges of switching their game quickly. Apart from Kishan and Tilak, batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who opens for East Zone, will also be part of the T20I squad for the Afghanistan series. Kishan said it’s never easy to switch formats this quickly. The East Zone captain, who plays in the middle order in domestic cricket but opens for India in T20Is, explained its challenges. Also read| Asian Games 2026: IOA tells BCCI 'no special treatment' for cricket, asks board to handle own logistics "I don't know. How do I tell you? It's just about knowing what format you are playing," Kishan said on the eve of the Duleep final at Chepauk. "Sometimes it gets difficult when you are playing a Test match and suddenly you have to go and start hitting from ball one and suddenly you have to go back to your domestic team and you have to play a whole different role. But at the same time, I feel, as professionals it's our job to adapt, we cannot be coming up with excuses after knowing this is like your routine for next few days. "So, it is better not to be in a situation where we have to make excuses, but at the same time be aware and be just mindful of what is going to happen, and I will be playing T20 after this. So, my job will be different [in T20Is], but still I feel we are getting two days of practice before the Afghanistan first game, so it will be more than enough, I feel,” Kishan said ahead of the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai. On the other hand, Tilak, who has frequently switched formats in recent months, also expressed similar concerns, adding that though all players are quick to adapt to the conditions, going from five-day cricket to a 20-over game isn’t the easiest option. "We have played enough domestic games; we have played in every condition, so we can adjust to the conditions," Tilak Varma said. "But it will be slightly challenging playing five days here and again joining the [T20I] team. But from here we are going to Delhi; there will be two days of break, so we can practice there and we have enough time as well, but it will be slightly challenging. We know how to change our mindsets and maintain our body with good fluids and everything, so we have played back-to-back games before in the domestic as well and international, so we are quite used to it,” he added. Meanwhile, the 2026 Duleep Trophy final will see two top and star-studded teams facing off for the coveted prize, with several A-listers ready to grace the occasion.

Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma react to leading East Zone and South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final just days before India's T20I series against Afghanistan.

'Switching formats is tough but no excuses': Kishan, Tilak ready for AFG T20Is days after Duleep Trophy final

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'He has that hunger for India comeback': Ishan Kishan hails Mohammed Shami ahead of Duleep Trophy final

Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma ready for AFG T20Is days after Duleep Trophy final