Indian cricket team fast bowler Mohammed Shami has finally addressed the rumours involving him and tennis star Sania Mirza. Various social media posts speculated that Shami and Sania are about to get married with manipulated images surfacing online. In a recent interaction with Shubhankar Mishra on YouTube, Shami was asked about the rumours and he blasted the ones responsible for circulating such news online. The fast bowler asked people to refrain from spreading much lies on social media and even said that although such memes may provide entertainment, they can also be harmful. “I urge everyone to be responsible with social media and refrain from spreading such unfounded news,” he said.

“Ajeeb hi hai aur hai kya usme? zabardasti kiya hai par kya karien? Phone kholo toh apna hi photo dikhta hai. Lekin mai ek hi cheez bolna chahunga – Kisiko nehi kheechna chahiye aisa. Main maanta hu memes aapke mazaak ke liye hai lekin kisi ke life se related hote hai. Toh aapko bari soch samajh kar memes banana chahiye. Aaj aap verified page nehi ho, aapka address nehi hai, known nehi ho toh aap bol sakte ho.” ( It is weird and done purposely for some lame fun. But what can be done? If I open my phone then I could see those memes. But I would only like to say I think that memes are made for fun, but if they are related to someone’s life, then you must think about it and then share such things. These people share from unverified pages and get away by saying anything and everything).”

“Lekin mai ek hi cheez bolna chahunga – agar aap mein dum hai toh verified page se bolke dikhao, fir hum batate hai. Dusre ki taang kheechna bohot aasan hai. Success achieve karo, apna level upar karo. Tab main manunga aap acche insaan hai.” ( But I would like to say one thing – if you have the guts to say all these things from a verified page, then I will reply. Try achieving success, help people and upgrade yourself then I will believe that you are a good person),” Shami added.

As Gautam Gambhir begins his charge as the Indian team’s new head coach, many big calls are likely to be taken on the futures of certain veteran players. The likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharm and Ravindra Jadeja have already quit T20 international cricket while there are a few others whose continuity in the shortest format is being questioned. One such player is Mohammed Shami who remains available in all three formats but hasn’t been among the top choices in T20Is of late. India’s outgoing bowling coach Paras Mhambrey has asked Gambhir and his coaching staff, which hasn’t been finalised yet, to have a work with Shami about his future without much delay.

“The staff should talk to Shami and find out what he wants to do. He’s no longer young, so where does he fit in and how many more years does he look to play? How do we use him smartly? I’m sure whoever comes with Gauti [Gautam Gambhir] will find out how to get the best of Shami,” Mhambrey, India’s bowling coach during Rahul Dravid‘s stint as the head coach, said in an interview with The Telegraph Online.

Shami has struggled with injuries over the last one year. He was India’s best bowler in the 2023 ODI World Cup but hasn’t played for India since the final against Australia.

“If Tests are the focus now, then make sure he is in the best shape for the series in Australia. However, what Shami wants and what his body says is paramount. But yes, some cricket is needed before the Australia tour as he has had a long break,” Mhambrey asserted.

“Individual fitness varies and can’t be of the same level. So, the players have to be treated differently. You can’t compare a Shami with some youngster who has just come in. You have to understand what the value of Shami is. Do you need Shami to do the Yo-Yo or bowl those many balls in a Test and win India the game?” he added.

Shami remains one of the finest pacers India has produced in this generation. With the Champions Trophy and the Test Championship in focus next, he could be key to head coach Gambhir’s plans.

Sania Mirza and Mohammed Shami are two of the most successful sportspersons that the country has seen over the last few decades. Sania is the greatest women’s tennis player from India while Shami is a champion pace bowler, with his solid show at the ODI World Cup 2023 catapulting the Indian cricket team into the final. Recently, a rumour started floating that Sania Mirza and Mohammed Shami were going to get married. 

While Sania and Pakistan cricket star Shoaib Malik got divorced earlier this year, Shami is also separated from his wife Hasin Jahan. 

Indian tennis icon Sania Mirza recently embarked on a sacred journey to Hajj, about 5 months after she announced he split with cricketer husband Shoaib Malik. Sania, who has also retired from professional tennis, was most-recently working as a pundit for the prestigious French Open 2024. Taking to social media, the Indian sporting icon had revealed that she is now gearing up for a ‘transformative experience’, from which she hopes to return as a better human being.

In a post on social media on Sunday, Sania wrote: “As I prepare for this transformative experience, I humbly ask for your forgiveness for any wrongdoings and shortcomings.”

Sania further said that she hopes Allah accepts her prayers and guides her on this blessed path.

She added: “I am deeply fortunate and feel immensely grateful. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I embark on this journey of a lifetime. I hope to come back as a better human being with a humble heart and stronger Imaan.”

Sania was also recently spotted on a famous comedy show where she spoke to comedian Kapil Sharma about her decorated career, especially her partnership with Martina Hingis in 2015-16.

During the conversation, Sania shared: “I think all of the women sitting on this couch can understand this…when you hit a streak (winning back-to-back), athletes like to call it being ‘In the zone’… Honestly, I think that’s the best way I can describe what Martina and I had for those six months.”