‘Socha zaroor, par hua nahin’: Mohammed Shami admits he once thought of suicide

India’s star pacer Mohammed Shami has opened up about one of the darkest phases of his life, admitting that he once contemplated suicide but pulled himself back after realising how much the game of cricket had given him.

Speaking on ‘Aap Ki Adalat’ with Rajat Sharma, Shami said he considered ending his life but ultimately chose to focus on cricket and the love he received from fans.

“Socha zaroor, par hua nahin. Yeh shukr hai, varna World Cup miss ho jata. Jab wo thought aaya ki life khatam karni hai, tab hi yaad aaya ki jis cheez ne mujhe naam diya, jis cheez ke liye log mere peeche hain, usko chhod kyu doon? Phir socha, chhodo yeh sab aur game mein lago,” Shami shared.

The 34-year-old has been in the headlines both for his performances and his personal life. In July this year, the Calcutta High Court ordered him to pay a monthly alimony of ₹4 lakh to his estranged wife, Hasin Jahan, and their daughter. Jahan, a former model whom Shami married in 2014, will receive ₹1.5 lakh per month, while their daughter will get ₹2.5 lakh. The couple separated in 2018 after Jahan accused him of domestic violence.

On facing social media abuse, Shami admitted he was deeply affected by false allegations:

“Nowadays, things are spoken about which do not even exist. The number of allegations levelled against me in the last 6–7 years, maybe even a terrorist wouldn’t have faced so many. I cannot do anything in this.”

Shami’s Career Struggles

Shami last played a competitive match on May 2 for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2025, going wicketless and conceding 48 runs in three overs against Gujarat Titans. His IPL season was largely disappointing, managing just six wickets in nine games.

He also missed India’s marquee Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy Test series in England and was not picked for the Asia Cup in September. His last international appearance came during the ICC Champions Trophy in March, where he finished as India’s joint-highest wicket-taker with nine scalps in five matches, helping India lift the title.

Shami last played Test cricket in 2023 against Australia in England.

With India set to play a home series against West Indies followed by a white-ball series against Australia, the big question remains: will Mohammed Shami make his comeback?