If given the opportunity, how to make use of it is something that Mohammad Shami has demonstrated. Due to the presence of Hardik Pandya and Shardul Thakur, Shami didn’t find a place in India’s playing XI in the first four matches of the World Cup. Working alongside all-rounders like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, Pandya and Shardul played the role of the third pacer for India. The team was winning, and there seemed to be no need for a change in the playing eleven.
However, when Pandya got injured in a match against New Zealand in Dharamsala, Shami got his opportunity in the playing XI. He made the most of the conditions, taking 5 wickets for just 54 runs. In his One Day International career, this was his second five-wicket haul. Thanks to his superb bowling, he helped restrict New Zealand to 273 runs, leading India to victory by 4 wickets. Shami also received the Man of the Match award for his outstanding performance.
In the World Cup, winning the Man of the Match award in the very first game he played was a source of immense joy for the Indian pacer. Shami said, “When you return to the team after an injury, if you can take wickets in your first over, it immediately boosts your self-confidence. It was good fortune, and I took a wicket with my very first ball. That has increased my self-confidence.”
When asked about whether it was challenging to play in the World Cup after a long break, Shami responded, “It was not very difficult, and the team was doing well. Supporting the team at that time was crucial. I enjoyed that. It is essential for the team.”
Shami was vital for India in taking wickets when he bowled. He delivered in the eighth over of the Powerplay, immediately providing the team with a breakthrough wicket. He even managed to get a breakthrough in his second spell as a batsman from New Zealand tried to accelerate their innings. Towards the end, Shami’s exceptional death bowling got India an additional 3 wickets.
In all situations, Shami felt satisfied with his wicket-taking performance and said, “New Zealand is a top team in the World Cup, they’ve won all their matches. To remain in the match, we had to keep taking wickets.”
At the end of the match, captain Rohit Sharma also praised Shami, saying, “Shami has grabbed the opportunity with both hands. He has used the conditions very well.”
