Mohammad Shami reveals MS Dhoni’s advice before hat-trick ball vs Afghanistan in 2019 Cricket World Cup

Dixit Bhargav
|Published Jun 23, 2019 02:14PM UTC

Mohammad Shami reveals MS Dhoni’s advice: The Indian fast bowler opened up on advice received from the legendary cricketer.

Playing his first match in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, India fast bowler Mohammad Shami successfully entered the record books after becoming only the second Indian bowler (after Chetan Sharma) to grab a hat-trick in the World Cup. Overall in ODIs, Shami became the fourth Indian (after Sharma, Kapil Dev and Kuldeep Yadav) to register the feat.

Shami didn’t shy away from admitting that veteran Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi’s 14th ODI half-century had caused concerns among the Indian team. Shami also confessed that him dismissing Nabi in the last over was the game-changing moment of the match.

“There was a point when [Mohammad] Nabi’s flow was irritating but it’s better if you don’t show your concern or irritation which the batsman would have gauged. We knew that if Nabi was out, then match belongs us. He was the only batsman who could have built their innings,” Shami was quoted as saying by India Today.

Mohammad Shami reveals MS Dhoni’s advice

Other than the hat-trick being an exceptional personal feat, it made sure that the opposition in Afghanistan don’t ended up upsetting India. Talking about the same, Shami disclosed an advice received by former India captain and current wicket-keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

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“The plan was simple. To bowl a yorker and even Mahi bhai [MS Dhoni] 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 said.

Shami was included into the team as fellow fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s replacement. While he considered himself as lucky to get the nod, he said that he was ready for the chance.

“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,” Shami added.

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About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.