India fast bowler Mohammed Shami revealed on Wednesday that he played throughout the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand with a fractured knee.
Shami was the second highest wicket-taker for India behind Umesh Yadav and the fourth-highest overall in the tournament but it turns out that he battled through pain everyday to feature in the showpiece event.
Shami bagged 17 wickets out from 7 matches at an average of 17.29 with best figures of 4 for 35 and was only behind Umesh Yadav, who played a game more than him and picked 18 wickets at 17.83 with 2 four-wicket hauls.
Talking about his performances in the World Cup, Shami revealed that doctors used to take out fluid from his knees everyday before he went out on the field.
“I had knee injury during the 2015 World Cup. I couldn’t walk after the matches I played throughout the tournament with the injury. I played the 2015 WC because of Nitin Patel’s confidence.
“The knee broke in the first match itself. My thighs and knees were the same size, doctors used to take out fluid from them everyday. I used to take 3 painkillers,” Shami told Irfan Pathan during a candid chat on Instagram live.
‘Mahi bhai, team management gave me confidence’
Shami also credited former captain MS Dhoni for motivating him to carry on playing despite the pain throughout the tournament and especially in the semi-final at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
“Before the semi-final I had told my teammates that I couldn’t take it any longer. On the day of the match, I had a lot of pain. I discussed it with the management but they said it will be alright.
“Mahi bhai, the team management gave me so much confidence. They said it’s the semifinal we cannot go for a new bowler.
“I bowled the first 5 overs and gave away about 13 runs with a wicket. I beat Finch and Warner’s bats but couldn’t get the edge. So I went off after telling Mahi bhai.
“The condition was very bad even after I took an injection. I told Mahi bhai that I cannot bowl because I cannot run any longer. But he told me I trust you, any other part-timer will also go for runs.
“He just told me don’t give away more than 60 runs. I haven’t played in a worse condition than that. 4mm piece had chipped off the bone. Some said my career was over, some said I shouldn’t have played. But touchwood I’m still here now in front of you all,” Shami said.
India were knocked out of the 2015 World Cup after they lost to eventual champions Australia in the 2nd semi-final in Sydney. The Aussies posted 328 for 7 thanks to Steve Smith’s 105 and then bowled India out for 233 thanks to brilliant performances from pacers James Faulkner (3/59), Mitchell Starc (2/28) and Mitchell Johnson (2/50).