When Jasprit Bumrah was knocked out with an injury there was some serious doubt about who was going to take up the mantle for the Men in Blue. Up stepped the experienced campaigner called Mohammed Shami, troubling the batters frequently and emphatically.
However, Shami’s struggles started a long time back and from fighting personal demons to braving the world’s best batters, it was a treat for the fast bowling ace’s fans to watch as he continued to shine in the Indian colours.
It was MS Dhoni who personally overlooked his trial and said four words in the nets that eventually proved to the offing for the Bengal pacer, as he shined through the maze of uncertainty, ushering India to the hallowed likes of one triumph after the other.
Ishant Sharma narrated the entire story, adding what Dhoni said during the nets about Shami, “I had heard of a bowler from West Indies who had a lot of pace, meaning he was very skiddy. His run-up looks normal but he bowled with a lot of pace. So when we saw him at the net, then Mahi Bhai said, “Wow, he is good””.
Ishant further added, “Then he made his debut in Kolkata. As far as I remember, he picked nine wickets and helped India win. So after that, we also became very good friends. When he was going through some personal turmoil, whatever had happened to him, I felt he needed a support from someone outside and say to him, ‘What happened, happened. If you focus on cricket, may be things will become okay’. May be that is why Shami is a totally different bowler now.”
Both Ishant Sharma and Shami has been partners in crime, hurtling some serious steam at the batters who were up against them, in almost all formats of the game, from Australia to England.
