The pacer who has faced vitriolic comments on social media in the past, said players should be judged for their performance and commitment to the team, not their faith
NEW DELHI — Mohammed Shami has always been more than just a fast bowler. For many, he is an inspiration, someone who rose from a small town in Uttar Pradesh to become one of the country’s finest cricketers. Despite his successful career in Indian cricket sometimes he finds himself facing online abuse because of his religion.
In an interview with News24 India’s star pacer Mohammed Shami hit back at a wave of online abuse directed at Muslim cricketers, calling such trolling “disrespectful, divisive, and against the spirit of the game.”
Shami, who has faced vitriolic comments on social media in the past, particularly after India’s loss to Pakistan in the 2021 T20 World Cup, said that players should be judged for their performance and commitment to the team, not their faith.
Hailing from Amroha in Uttar Pradesh, Shami has been a role model to many. He has so far played 64 Tests (229 wickets), 108 ODIs (206 wickets), and 25 T20Is (27 wickets). He was the top wicket-taker in the 2023 ODI World Cup with 24 scalps. He was also the joint-highest Indian wicket-taker (9 wickets) at the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Despite all this impressive performance, he was bitterly attacked by sections of social media after India lost to Pakistan in 2021. He was even called “a traitor” and “anti-national.”
During the interview Shami opened up about the toll such trolling can take — especially when directed against Muslim cricketers.
When asked whether Muslim cricketers get ‘targeted’ more — sometimes even more so when the Indian cricket team is playing Pakistan. His response was blunt.
“I pay no heed to such trolling. I have been given a job. I am not a machine. If I am working hard throughout the year, sometimes I will fail, sometimes I will succeed. It’s up to people how they want to take that,” Shami said bluntly.
For Shami playing for India transcends all other considerations.
“When you play for your country, you forget all such things. For you, taking wickets and winning the match become more important. I don’t want to go on social media at such times. You see both positive and negative comments. When you’re playing, you need to stay far away from such things,” he said.
“We work hard to succeed. Trolls just have to type two lines. True fans will never do such things. If you have objections, then raise them—but respectfully. If you think you can do better than me, please come and try. It’s always open,” he added.
Several former cricketers and fans rallied behind Shami’s stand, praising him for speaking out. Ex-India opener Virender Sehwag tweeted support, while many users echoed that cricket must unite, not divide.
Sports analysts point out that such targeted trolling not only demoralises players but also undermines the inclusive ethos of Indian cricket, which has historically thrived on diversity.
Shami urged fans to back the team through victories and setbacks alike, reminding them that “criticism of performance is fair, but attacking someone’s religion is beyond unacceptable.”
