Mohammed Shami was named as India’s bowling selection for Wednesday’s 2023 World Cup semi-final match against New Zealand at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
After opting to bat first, the Men in Blue amassed an outstanding 397-run total, thanks to centuries from Virat Kohli (117) and Shreyas Iyer (105).
Shami got the squad off to a great start, dismissing openers Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra early. Daryl Mitchell and Kane Williamson put on a magnificent 181-run third-wicket stand to offer the side a glimpse of hope.
With two wickets in the 33rd over, Shami once again let India to force their way back into the match. The seasoned seamer won his third five-wicket haul in the current main event with a final total of seven wickets.
Social media users praised the right-arm fast bowler for his amazing bowling feats. Here are a few of the most popular replies:
New Zealand were eventually bowled out for 327, allowing India to win by 70 runs. Notably, this was Mohammed Shami’s third five-wicket haul of the tournament.
He also became the first bowler in World Cup history to have four fifers. Shami currently has the most wickets in the 2023 World Cup, with 23 from six matches.
“We don’t know when all of us will get a chance like this again” – Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Shami, however, was out of action during the four initial matches of Team India. However, he finally made it after Hardik Pandya hurt his right ankle while on the pitch against Bangladesh during the group stage.
The first ball of the match in which he took five wickets was against New Zealand, and for him it’s all history after.
In an interview conducted after the game, Mohammed Shami discussed his play as follows:
“I was waiting for my turn. I wasn’t playing much white ball cricket. I had in mind, we talk about a lot of things like yorkers and slower balls. I tried to take wickets with the new ball. I try to take as many as I can with the new ball. I dropped the catch of Kane. I felt bad. I tried to take pace off. They were playing their shots. So, I took a chance.”
“The wicket was good,” he added. “There was the fear of dew. The grass was cut off nicely. The runs were enough. Had dew come in, things could have been bad. The slower balls might not have worked. I feel amazing. This is a huge platform. We lost in the semis in the 2015 and the 2019 WC.
“Looking to cash in with the chance I have been given. We don’t know when all of us will get a chance like this again.”
Mohammed Shami
The hosts, namely India, will face either South Africa or Australia in the final of the ODI tournament. The culmination point of the clash shall be done at the Narendra Modi Stadium located in Ahmedabad which is scheduled for Sunday the 19th of November.