'I only have one meal daily' - Shami's cheeky reply to Navjot Singh Sidhu's weight loss query

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has begun, and team India kicked off their campaign in style. However, one of the biggest talking points has been the return of ace pacer Mohammed Shami. After months of rehabilitation due to a prolonged injury, Shami made a stunning comeback, claiming a five-wicket haul against Bangladesh in India's tournament opener.

Shami’s road to recovery was far from easy. After India’s heartbreaking exit from the 2023 ODI World Cup, the pacer struggled with injuries, forcing him to miss out on a lot of cricket. He underwent surgery and spent months at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, working on his fitness. His comeback in the limited-overs series against England was not as smooth, as he struggled to find his rhythm. However, in the first match of the Champions Trophy against Bangladesh, he had a brilliant performance.

Are you not having the rice in biryani then? - Sidhu

Following his match-winning spell, Shami interacted with former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu in an interview. Sidhu, inquired about the pacer's fitness transformation over one year. "How did you lose five-six kg weight? Are you not having the rice in biryani then," Sidhu asked Shami on Star Sports. To which the pacer replied that he has lost a lot of weight and has undergone dietary discipline to achieve his fitness goals.

"I have lost nine kg. The most difficult thing is challenging oneself. When you are such a situation (recovering from injury), I was at the NCA and my weight was 90kg. The best part is that I don't crave for tasty food, I don't have sweets. I stay away from a lot of things which one should not have. As far as biryani is concerned, sometimes cheat meal toh chalta hai. Toh mera yeh chalta hai toh kya dikkat hai. Since 2015, I only have one meal per day. I only do dinner, no breakfast or lunch. It is very difficult but once you get used to it then it's easy."

Star Sports@StarSportsIndia

Shami 🤝 ICC Tournaments From his love for biryani to his comeback, catch @MdShami11's post-match interview with @sherryontopp! 🎙 Up Next ▶ The #GreatestRivalry 🇮🇳 🆚 🇵🇰 #ChampionsTrophyOnJioStar 👉 #INDvPAK | SUN, 23rd FEB, 1:30 PM on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi,… x.com/i/web/status/1…

07:08 PM · Feb 21, 2025

1.3K121

Also Read: 'Virat and Rohit are in a league of their own' - Yuvraj Singh backs veterans to come among runs in Champions Trophy 2025

With his impressive performance against Bangladesh, Shami is once again ready to display his brilliance in ICC events. His swing, sharp seam movement, and ability to strike with the new ball make him a crucial member in India’s pace attack. The former champions prepare for their much-anticipated clash against Pakistan on February 23 at the Dubai International Stadium.