NEW DELHI: Indian pacer Mohammed Shami shared amusing reflections on his World Cup experiences, causing the audience, including Indian captain Rohit Sharma, to burst into laughter during the
CEAT Cricket Awards
last month.
A video released by Star Sports on Sunday captured these light-hearted moments. Shami, while speaking with anchor
Mayanti Langer
, discussed his journey through three
ODI World Cups
, explaining how he wasn’t a first-choice player at the start of each tournament but ended up making a significant impact each time he was given a chance.
In his conversation, Shami highlighted a recurring pattern in his World Cup career. Despite not being an initial choice, he always had a crucial role to play once opportunities arose. This candid admission elicited a major reaction from the audience. Rohit Sharma, among others like former coach Rahul Dravid, couldn't contain their amusement.
Reflecting humorously on his journey, Shami stated, "Aadat pad gayi hai shayad, kyunki '15 me, '19 me and '23 me, teeno me same start huwa hai. Aur jab mujhe mauka diya hai captain, coaches ne toh perform...aisa hi nikla hai ki phir inn logon ne kabhi socha nahi hai ki haan phir baitha de isko [I’ve gotten used to it, I think. In 2015, 2019, and 2023, I had the same start. But whenever the captain and coaches gave me a chance, I performed. So much so that they never thought about dropping me again]."
As the crowd laughed, Shami continued with his typical humor, "Mehnat kar sakte hai..hamesha main ready rahta hoon ki haan mujhe chance mile. Kyunki aap mujhe chance doge tabhi main kuch kar sakta hoon, varna table se toh pani hi pila sakta hoon bench se toh. So behtar he jab chance mile mauka le lo apne haath me [You can call it hard work, but I’m always ready for a chance. Only when you give me a chance can I prove myself. Otherwise, from the bench, all I can do is run onto the field to give water! It’s better to seize the opportunity when you get it]."
WATCH:
These comments reflect Shami's resilient character. Although he didn't start as the preferred player in the last World Cup, an injury to Hardik Pandya during a group match against Bangladesh provided Shami with an opportunity. He seized it effectively, completing the tournament with 24 wickets in seven matches, the best in the tournament.
Shami’s remarks at the awards function offered insight into his determined mindset and his knack for finding humor in his experiences. These reflections left a memorable impression on attendees, particularly Rohit Sharma.
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