Indian captain Rohit Sharma, ICC Chairman Jay Shah, and former Indian coach Rahul Dravid couldn’t hold back their laughter when Mohammed Shami shared his humorous take on his ICC World Cup selection.
At the Ceat Cricket Awards last month, Shami recounted his experiences from three ODI World Cups, highlighting how he wasn’t initially a top choice but managed to make a significant impact whenever given a chance.
When asked about this recurring pattern, Shami casually remarked, “Aadat si padh gayi, kyuki 2015, 2019, 2023, teeno mein same start hua hai” (It’s become a habit because in 2015, 2019, and 2023, all three World Cups started the same way).
He added a humorous twist, poking fun at the selectors with, “Phir mujhe jab mauka diya hai captain, coaches ne toh aisa perform kiya hai ki phir inn logo ne kabhi socha nahi hai ki phir batiha de isko” (When given a chance by the captain and coaches, I’ve performed so well that they never considered replacing me again).
As the audience erupted in laughter, Shami continued with his playful comments, saying, “Mehnat kar sakte hai, main hamesha 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 hai jab chance mile mauka le lo apne haath me Nahi toh main bas bench se pani hi pila sakta hoon”
Always ready, always hungry, always on top! 🙌🏻💪🏻#MohammedShami opens up on the drive that keeps him pushing forward, even after being benched in the early stages of the World Cup! 💥
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) September 2, 2024
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(I can work hard and am always ready for an opportunity. Once given a chance, only then can I make a difference; otherwise, all I can do from the bench is serve water. So it’s better to grab the opportunity when it comes, otherwise, I’ll just be serving water from the bench).