Mohammed Shami shares his memorable first experience in the India dressing room, recalling Yuvraj Singh's playful request to stand on a chair.

In a recent interview, Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami reflected on his initial experience in the Indian cricket team's dressing room, revealing the nerves he felt upon meeting some of his childhood idols. Shami, who made his One Day International (ODI) debut against Pakistan on January 6, 2013, later transitioned to Test cricket later that year, debuting against the West Indies at Kolkata's Eden Gardens from November 6 to 8. His T20 International debut followed on March 21, 2014, also against Pakistan in Mirpur. However, stepping into the Indian dressing room for the first time was a unique and daunting experience for him.

Shami recounted the day of his first team meeting, where he was overwhelmed by the presence of established players. "When I walked in through the door and looked around, there was not one name that had not come in my dream," he shared. During the meeting, Yuvraj Singh playfully encouraged him to stand on a chair and address the team. "I could not say much. I just told my name and where I was from. I could not remember anything," Shami admitted, highlighting the pressure of speaking in front of his cricketing heroes.

Shami also took a moment to discuss the lighter side of life in the Indian dressing room, naming former opener Shikhar Dhawan as the funniest player he has encountered. The two cricketers shared several years on the national team, with Dhawan participating in 34 Tests, 167 ODIs, and 68 T20Is before his retirement from international cricket in 2024. Shami praised Dhawan's ability to uplift the team's spirits, even after tough losses. "Shikhar is very funny. He does those things. If we lost a match, he would just laugh very loudly," Shami recalled. "He would stand on the table and start dancing to Punjabi music, creating a lively atmosphere in the dressing room." This camaraderie, according to Shami, is essential in maintaining morale throughout the ups and downs of a long cricketing season.

Throughout his career, Shami has established himself as a key player for India, having played 64 Tests and taken 229 wickets, including six five-wicket hauls. In ODIs, he has claimed 206 wickets across 108 matches, while in T20Is, he has participated in 25 games, securing 27 wickets. His most recent appearance for India was in the Champions Trophy final against New Zealand on March 9, 2025, where India triumphed by four wickets.