World Cup 2023 Final: Proud that Mohammed Shami has performed well despite many setbacks, says Sanjay Bangar

India pacer Mohammed Shami has been the standout bowler in the World Cup 2023. Shami has picked up 23 wickets from just 6 matches in the tournament and is leading the wicket-takers charts at the moment. The India pacer was not in the preferred playing XI of the Indian side in the run-up to the World Cup 2023 as India opted for the combination of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and two fast bowling all-rounders in Hardik Pandya and Shardul Thakur.

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The team was forced to change its combination after Hardik Pandya got injured in the match against Bangladesh. Pandya’s injury led to India change its combination and bring the pacer into the fray. Shami picked up a wicket in his very first ball in the tournament and has been undroppable since. In the semi-final against New Zealand, Shami picked up 7 wickets – registering the best-ever figures by an Indian bowler in ODI history.

Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar spoke on Shami’s brilliance ahead of the final match between India and Australia and said that he had overcome several rough patches.

“Very proud of Mohammed Shami. He has gone through some rough patches, not only in his career but fitness-wise as well, as well as in his personal life, so it is great to see somebody of that sort of a character having gone through those ups and downs and still keeping his head high,” Sanjay Bangar said on Star Sports ahead of the World Cup 2023 Final.

“In such times, what you require is passion to go back to what you love doing, keep playing cricket. He has bowled India to victory consistently,” Bangar spoke on Shami’s passion.

The pacer was being kept ready as a back-up option for the ODI tournament but has turned out to be India’s best bowler, after playing just six matches. During the tournament, Shami also became the first India pacer to pick up 50 wickets in the ODI World Cups, a feat that very few cricketers have attached their name to.

“Shami not originally being a part of the original World Cup squad was a little bit surprising. If there weren’t injury concerns to some bowlers, he might not have got his selection. But I guess, good sense prevailed and he became a part of the squad,” the former India batting coach said.

“If you see a bowler like Pat Cummins who bowls one change, he has picked up wickets using the short delivery. On the other hand, look at Shami, he has picked up wickets, bowling fuller length with the old ball and that goes onto show the quality of the player and he has performed exceedingly well in the tournament,” Sanjay Bangar concluded.