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Despite Good Performance, I Am Ignored: Mohammed Shami

  • By Thetripurapost Desk, Mumbai
  • Jul 20, 2024
  • 345

When the most successful Indian bowler in World Cup history is mentioned, Mohammed Shami will be remembered. No Indian bowler has taken more wickets than Mohammed Shami in the World Cup. 

Shami has 55 wickets in World Cup history, which makes him Asia's third and the world's fifth most successful bowler in this tally. 

He is the only bowler to take five wickets four times in the World Cup. Yet he is hardly given a place in India's playing XI in the last three editions of the ICC tournament. 

India has played 28 matches in the last three World Cups, in which Shami played only in 18 matches, out of which India won 15 matches. Responding to a podcast, Shami said that despite good performance, he is ignored.

while talking on a YouTube show 'Unplugged', Shami admitted that the attitude of the team management in 2019 surprised him. 

He questioned that every team needs good performers, why was his performance ignored despite giving his best performance. Like the 2023 World Cup, Shami was dropped in the first match of the group round in the 2019 World Cup, where India was captained by Virat Kohli and coached by Ravi Shastri. 

This time Shami got his first chance in the Super-8 round against Afghanistan in the fifth match of the tournament.

Mohammed Shami has taken 14 wickets in four matches of the 2019 World Cup. Shami was benched in the semi-final match against New Zealand, where the team lost by 18 runs. 

Talking about this, he said, 'In 2019, I did not play the first 4-5 games. In the next game I took a hat-trick then took five wickets and then took four wickets in the next game. The same thing happened in 2023. I did not play in the first few matches and then took five wickets then four wickets and then five wickets. One thing I keep thinking is that every team needs players who can perform well. I took 13 wickets in three matches. What else do you expect from me? I neither have questions nor answers. I can prove myself only when I get a chance. You gave me a chance and I took 13 wickets in three matches then we lost to New Zealand. Overall I played four matches and took 14 wickets. In 2023, I took 24 wickets in seven matches