After Glenn Maxwell hit the winning runs in ICC Men's World Cup 2023 final, Mohammed Siraj was in tears and Mohammed Shami was seen consoling him at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. But in the dressing room, Shami got emotional and Prime Minister Narendra Modi hugged the pacer as India missed winning the ODI World Cup title after 12 years despite spectacular performances throughout the tournament.
Shami posted a photo on Instagram of PM Modi hugging him. In the caption, he wrote: “Unfortunately yesterday was not our day. I would like to thank all Indians for supporting our team and me throughout the tournament. Thankful to PM @narendramodi for specially coming to the dressing room and raising our spirits. We will bounce back!”
Unlike other games, Shami opened the bowling as India needed to defend 240 in the final. With the new ball, he struck with the first legitimate delivery. He managed to get an outside edge off Australian opener David Warner's bat that landed in first slip fielder Virat Kohli's gloves.
Shami struggled to control the new ball compared to how he bowls first change and leaked a few extras. In the rest of the encounter, Shami failed to pick up a wicket. Despite bowling a maiden, he conceded 47 runs from seven overs as Australia chased down the target with six wickets in hand and 42 balls to spare.
However, Shami ended as the highest wicket-taker of the tournament. He took 24 wickets from seven games including three fifers. He registered the best bowling figures by an Indian pacer in ODIs with seven wickets for 57 runs against New Zealand in the semifinal clash at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Interestingly, Shami warmed the benches for the first four matches of the tournament. Shardul Thakur and Ravichandran Ashwin was preferred over him as the team management wanted a batting option at no.8. However, Hardik Pandya’s injury against Bangladesh forced the team management to include Shami in the side with Suryakumar Yadav in the middle order. During the tournament, Shami also became India’s highest wicket-taker in ODI World Cup history.
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