Shami Reveals Dhoni Advice What he told Shami before the Hat-Trick Delivery
16 runs were needed in the last over and Mohammad Nabi was playing an absolute killer of an innings. While wickets kept falling from one end, Nabi was very calmly taking the game away from the Indians while keeping the hopes alive till the final over.
Nabi smashed Shami’s first ball of the final over for a four as the crowd went silent at Southampton on Saturday. However, Mohammed Shami came back with three wickets in next three balls, as he claimed his first hat-trick in a World Cup, and second by an Indian, only to help India win the match with one ball left to play. Mohammed Shami had Nabi at long-on, followed by Aftab Alam and Mujeeb Ur Rahman wickets with two superb Yorkers.
Releasing the importance of taking a hat-trick in a World Cup, MS Dhoni had even walked up to Shami a ball before his hat-trick delivery and gave him his words of wisdom before he would hit the bull’s eye in what was his hat-trick ball.
“The fewer you have to defend, the more issues you face in executing, but knowing I had Jasprit Bumrah bowling [the 49th over] from the other end was good,” Shami said soon after the match.
“The hat-trick feels very special, that too getting it in a World Cup is a big deal. Before I bowled the last ball, I had MS Dhoni’s advice in my mind. He told me, ‘World Cup hat-tricks are rare, just bowl a yorker. This is your chance.’ That’s what I did.” Shami said.
Shami Reveals Dhoni Advice: Mohammed Shami is, in fact, the second Indian bowler to take a hat-trick in a World Cup. He ended his spell with impressive figures of 4 for 40 in 9.5 overs. Chetan Sharma was the first Indian to have taken a hat-trick against New Zealand in the 1987 World Cup. Overall, 10 bowlers have recorded hat-tricks in the history of World Cups.
Mohammed Shami also believes that he is a bit lucky to have played the game but was sure that whenever he was going to get the opportunity to play, he would make the most of it.
“Getting a chance in the playing XI is a bit of luck. I was ready that whenever I get a chance, I will have to utilize it. As far as hat-trick is concerned, it is a rarity at least in the World Cup. I am happy,” he said.
India has now won 4 out of their 5 matches played in the World Cup. Virat Kohli and Co. are now sitting comfortably at third position with 9 points in hand. They will only to need to win 2 matches out of four in order to qualify for the semis.
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