Indian pacer Mohammed Shami revealed that it was MS Dhoni’s advice to bowl a yorker which led to the bowler grabbing a hat-trick in the final over during India’s nerve-wracking victory over Afghanistan in Southampton.
With the Afghans needing 16 runs off the final over, all-rounder Mohammad Nabi hit Shami over long-0n on for a boundary, and as India came under the knife, it was time for Dhoni’s pep talk.
Shami responded with a perfect hat-trick and became only the second Indian bowler to take a hat-trick in World Cup, after Chetan Sharma, who achieved the feat against New Zealand in 1987. Also, this is only the tenth hat-trick in the history of the World Cup.
Speaking about Dhoni’s advice, Shami said, “The plan was simple. To bowl a yorker and even Mahi bhai suggested that. He said, ‘Don’t change anything now as you have a great chance of getting a hat-trick. It’s a rare opportunity and you need to do the same thing. So, I did what exactly I was told,” Shami told reporters after returning with figures of 4 for 40.
“There was no time to think. You have to back your own skills as you don’t have much option otherwise. If you try more variations, chances of going for runs is more. My thought was to execute my plan rather than trying to read batsman’s mind,” he added.
With Nabi still on the crease, the game was hanging in the middle of nowhere. And Shami said that although India knew it was irritating, dismissing the all-rounder would swing the pendulum in their favour.
“There was a point when Nabi’s flow was irritating but it’s better if you don’t show your concern or irritation which the batsman would have gauged,” he said.
“We shouldn’t show our weakness. From the exterior, we should always show aggression. We knew that if Nabi was out, then match belongs us. He was the only batsman who could have built their innings.”
Shami’s place in the line-up came on the back of Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s hamstring injury. Speaking about it, the Bengal pacer said he was only waiting for a chance to come.
“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 utilise it. As far as hat-trick is concerned, it is a rarity at least in the World Cup. I am happy,” he said.
Feature image courtesy: Twitter / Cricket World Cup
