Mohammed Shami has been one of the most consistent fast bowlers of India for over a decade, known for his ability to strike with both the new and old ball. His fiery spells have turned matches in India’s favour, while his calm demeanor off the field has earned him respect from teammates and fans. As he continues his recovery from injury, Shami recently shared an amusing story about how people started calling him by a name that has stuck with him in the dressing room — ‘Lala’.
Shami admitted that he doesn’t know exactly how the nickname began but he strongly suspects that Virat Kohli was behind it. The two cricketers have been close friends for years and Shami believes Kohli has a habit of coming up with such things. He revealed that now everyone in the team uses it, including newcomers, and the name has become permanent despite having little connection to him. He even wondered aloud if it had something to do with his weight, though he quickly dismissed that thought. In some regions of India, jewelers are addressed as “Lala” and the nickname was also famously associated with former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi. Still, Shami laughed that none of those links applied to him but once such names catch on in a team environment, it is easier to accept them than resist.
Indian cricket has a long tradition of such nicknames, which often end up being loved by fans as well. Virat Kohli himself was called “Cheeku” in his early days, while Sourav Ganguly has always been affectionately known as “Dada”.
Away from the light-hearted banter, Shami also spoke about his current focus on fitness. After being sidelined because of injuries, he briefly returned for the T20I series against England but failed to impress and was left out of the Test squad for the England tour.
Determined to bounce back, he explained that he has spent the past two months working hard on his body, shedding weight and increasing his workload. His aim now is to regain rhythm, bowl long spells with consistency and contribute with batting and fielding as well. Feeling stronger and more comfortable after hours in the gym, Shami hopes the effort will soon translate into performances on the field.
So what is your nickname and what is the story behind it? Do share with us.
