During the 2023 ODI World Cup, it’s reported that Mohammed Shami, Team India’s experienced bowler, had frequent injections. It seems these were to handle a stubborn left heel problem, and he played the whole ICC event enduring discomfort.
Hitting the age of 33, Shami shone brightly in the World Cup. Even after sitting out the first four games, he ended up as the top bowler of the tournament. He collected 24 wickets across seven games, averaging 10.70. He also scored three times with five wicket-hauls.
According to PTI, the pacer produced the stellar results despite suffering from a heel problem throughout.
“Shami has a chronic left heel issue. A lot of people don’t know that he took injections regularly during World Cup and played the entire tournament through pain,” a former Bengal teammate of Shami (unnamed) was quoted as saying by PTI.
“But you must understand that as you grow older, recovery from each niggle or big injury takes that more time,” the former teammate of the bowler went on to add.
In fact, the pacer did not participate in the first four games because India decided to use an all-rounder in Shardul Thakur. However, Hardik Pandya’s injury during the match against Bangladesh caused the thought tank to change its preparations, and Shami was brought into the playing XI.
Shami took 5/54 against New Zealand in Dharamsala and went on to torment opponents in subsequent matches, with the exception of the final against Australia.
Mohammed Shami ’s absence hurt India in Centurion Test: Manjrekar
Mohammed Shami can’t play in the two-Test series in South Africa because of a heel injury. This damages India’s game, as seen in the Boxing Day Test in Centurion without their key bowler.
Sanjay Manjrekar, an ex-India batter, notes that India really missed their experienced paceman during the Centurion Test. The result? They lost by a full innings and 32 runs.
“India missed Mohammed Shami. Because you are talking about getting the most out of the pitch by hitting the pitch and not looking for movement in the air. What does Shami do best? He gets movement on Indian pitches, where there is hardly any. So, he would have been a handful.”
Sanjay Manjrekar
During India’s 2021-22 tour of South Africa, Shami took eight wickets as the Proteas were defeated by 113 runs in the Centurion Test.