Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has lauded Virat Kohli for shielding his teammates as captain. Often, Kohli would intervene when any opposition player tried to sledge his teammates. He was known for his aggressive style on the field but, after the T20 World Cup 2021 loss to Pakistan by 10 wickets in Dubai, Kohli had to defend his teammate Mohammed Shami from unwarranted abuse on social media. India's veteran pacer Shami's expensive spell did not go down with social media trollers as they targetted him because of his religion. Kohli defended him which made Shastri respect the skipper even more as a leader.
"Virat was the most reassuring presence for newcomers, a captain who stood firmly behind his players. The way he backed them, especially in difficult moments, drew out their best. Players embraced his leadership with the same trust and enthusiasm once reserved for M.S. Dhoni," Shastri wrote in his column for a Sportstar.
"Virat was, in every sense, a player’s captain — giving everything he had, and expecting nothing less from those around him. His handling of the Mohammed Shami episode exemplifies how he stood up for his teammate when the fast bowler was subjected to unfair social media trolling after the 10-wicket loss to Pakistan in the 2021 T20 World Cup," he added.
Shami's forgettable night in Dubai to redemption
In India's first World Cup defeat across formats against Pakistan, Shami was the most expensive of the lot. He bowled 3.5 overs and conceded 43 runs. Like the other four bowlers, Shami remained wicketless too as Pakistan won the match by 10 wickets and 13 balls to spare. After that defeat, India have beaten Pakistan four times in ICC events.
A year later, Shami bowled an exceptional spell against Pakistan in Melbourne in T20 World Cup 2022. He bowled four overs, conceded 25 runs and got the wicket of Iftikhar Ahmed.
In the ODI World Cup 2023, Shami did not play four games but ended as the highest wicket-taker. He claimed 24 wickets from seven games at an average of 10.70, including three five-wicket hauls and one four-fer.