Mohammed Shami walked into the playing XI and proved why he deserved to get a chance at the big stage yet again. Shami registered a record-breaking five-wicket haul to restrict New Zealand to 273 despite Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra setting up a good platform. The experienced pacer got a chance to play Hardik Pandya got injured and India needed a pacer in conditions at HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala. After getting the ‘Player of the match’ award, Shami opened up about warming the benches for the first four matches and backed his teammates.
“It is not too hard if your team is doing well. They are your teammates and if they are doing well then you should be supporting them. If it is in the team's interest, I'm okay with it,” Shami told the broadcasters in the post-match presentation.
Shami was lethal with the new ball and then did not let the tail wag with booming inswingers in death overs. He was hit for a six and a four by centurion Mitchell but ended up taking his wicket as well to complete his second fifer in World Cups.
“The wickets are important because we were top 2 teams of the World Cup," Shami further said.
Shami had struck with the first ball he bowled to dismiss Will Young. He would have put New Zealand in a tough position had Ravindra Jadeja hung on to a regulation catch of Rachin Ravindra.
The 33-year-old was lauded by skipper Rohit Sharma for delivering with the ball right from the bench as he said, “Shami took the opportunity with both hands. He has the experience in these conditions and is a class bowler. At one stage, we were looking at 300 plus. Credit to our bowlers at the back end.”
Shami became the first Indian to take two fifers in ODI World Cups. Also, he is the first Indian bowler to take a fifer against New Zealand in World Cups. The four-wicket win helped India climb to the top of the points table. Also, the hosts ended their two-decade-long streak of losing to New Zealand in ICC events.
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