(Source X)
Paras Mhambrey, the former India bowling coach, has shed light on the decision to initially exclude Mohammed Shami from India’s starting lineup during the early stages of the 2023 ODI World Cup. Shami was notably absent from the team in the initial matches, only entering the fray after allrounder Hardik Pandya sustained an ankle injury.
Regrettably, Pandya’s injury worsened, leading to his withdrawal from the remainder of the tournament. This circumstance presented an opportunity for Mohammed Shami, who promptly entered the Playing XI. Making an immediate impact, the fast bowler secured a five-wicket haul in his debut match of the World Cup 2023, solidifying his position in the team.
Over the subsequent fixtures, Shami stunned opponents by claiming 9 wickets, thereby causing ripples through the opposition batting line-ups. His standout performance came in the semi-final against New Zealand, where he delivered his best bowling figures of the tournament—7 wickets for 57 runs—propelling India into the final.
Paras Mhambrey opens up on Mohammed Shami’s late inclusion in World Cup 2023.
In a candid interview with The Indian Express, Paras Mhambrey revealed the circumstances surrounding Mohammed Shami’s delayed inclusion in the World Cup 2023 squad. When questioned about whether it was a matter of desperation that prompted Shami’s eventual entry into the Playing XI, Mhambrey explained that initially, the team’s composition with Hardik Pandya as the third seamer did not accommodate Shami.
“(Mohammed) Shami was always there. But in the bilateral series, you had to build a team as well and needed to factor in a lot of things like form and workload. Because of squad strength, he missed out,” Mhambrey said.
“As far as the World Cup goes, Hardik (Pandya) was the fourth seamer in the squad and when it was clear he would be able to bowl his full quota of overs, he was going to be the third-choice seamer in the XI behind Bumrah and Siraj, who had an outstanding Asia Cup. So leaving out Shami was never an easy choice. Our combination didn’t allow him. But once Hardik was injured, Shami just came in,” Mhambrey added.
Mohammed Shami emerged as the top wicket-taker in World Cup 2023.
Mohammed Shami emerged as the standout performer of the World Cup 2023 despite joining midway through the tournament, finishing as its leading wicket-taker with 24 dismissals in just seven matches, boasting an impressive average of 10.70 and an economy rate of 5.26. His remarkable achievement included a memorable 7-57 haul in the crucial semi-final clash against New Zealand.
In the tournament, India boasted both the highest run-scorer in Virat Kohli and the leading wicket-taker in Mohammed Shami. However, despite their stellar performances, India fell short in the final against Australia, losing by 6 wickets.
Since his last appearance in the World Cup final, Mohammed Shami has been sidelined due to injury. A few months ago, he underwent ankle surgery, which ruled him out of IPL 2024 and the subsequent T20 World Cup. He is now on track for a comeback, with expectations high for his return during India’s upcoming home Test series against Bangladesh.
