Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has been sidelined from cricket since his last outing in the 2023 ODI World Cup. His contributions were vital in guiding India to the final, however the campaign ended in disappointment as the Men in Blue lost to Australia in the final.
Adding to his woes, Shami suffered a significant ankle injury during the tournament, because of which he underwent surgery in February this year.
During the CEAT Cricket Awards held last month, Shami spoke about his World Cup campaign, the video of which was made public by Star Sports on Sunday. He indirectly took a jibe at former India head coach Rahul Dravid and Indian captain Rohit Sharma by stating that he hadn’t been a first-choice player in all the 3 ODI World Cups he played. However, he did make remarkable comebacks once picked and thus, no one thought of dropping him again..
“I’m habitual to it, I think. In 2015, 2019, and 2023, I had the same start. When I was given a chance, the performances, thanks to god, they never thought of dropping me again. You can call to hard work, but I’m always ready for a chance. Only when you’re ready can you prove yourself. Otherwise, I can only run to the field to give water! It’s better to seize the opportunity when you get it,” Shami said.
The 33-year-old pacer is currently undergoing a rigorous rehabilitation process. The Indian management is determined to ensure Shami’s complete recovery, prioritizing his long-term fitness. The pacer himself stated that he would first play for his state side, Bengal before returning to the Indian team.
