India seamer Mohammad Shami opened up about his relationship with former India Test and T20I player Virat Kohli and how he gained the ‘lazy’ moniker from the former captain, a nickname that has stuck to him.

When reminded by host Rajat Sharma, on the show Aap ki Adalat’, that Kohli had once called him “lazy” for taking naps during massages, Shami laughed it off.

“Your body gets exhausted during a Test match. I might have taken a short nap, but if that earns me the ‘lazy’ tag, I don’t mind. Fast bowling is the toughest job in the team. We run the most, we respond whenever the situation demands, and off the field, if I relax for a bit, what’s the harm? Virat can call me ‘lazy’ or ‘lala,’ but I am neither fat nor selling jewelry. In the Indian team, you are bound to pick up some nickname,” Shami said on the show, quoted by the Times of India.

Shami also recounted a humorous moment when Kohli smiled while he answered a commentator’s questions in English. On language struggles, Shami explained that he never feels embarrassed speaking in English.

“I was trying my best to answer in English. I even joked that I had brought Virat with me during the New Zealand series because the Kiwis have such a different accent. After I finished, Virat asked why I had brought him along.

If you don’t know a language, say it clearly and continue in Hindi. There’s no shame. Even if you can’t speak English fluently, trying is enough,” he said.

Mohammad Shami also recalled the incident from the ICC Champions Trophy, when Virat Kohli greeted his mother by touching her feet for blessings.

“Virat used to talk to my mom over the phone. She had never met him in person, and when she came to watch the match after years, I told Virat she was there. That’s why he went to her,” he said.

He then recalled the nerves of giving a speech on his debut in the dressing room.

“It was intimidating. Stars like Yuvraj were sitting in front, and I had to stand on a chair. My English wasn’t good, so I asked if I could speak in Hindi. I managed a few sentences and told them I would try to learn as much as I could from everyone,” Shami stated.