Image Credit- AP
Mohammed Shami, who won Player-of-the-Match for going
5 for 18 in India’s crushing 302 run victory over Sri Lanka in Mumbai, said
that it’s all about finding rhythm, hitting the right spots, maintaining an
uncluttered mind, and feeding off the love of the people. This victory made
India the first team to advance to the World Cup semi-finals.
“All the hard work we are putting in, the rhythm
we have found, it’s because of that that you are getting to see this storm (on
the cricket field), the incredible things our bowling unit is doing,”
Shami said at the post-match presentation. “The rhythm we are bowling
with, I can’t believe anyone will not enjoy it. So, yes, we are enjoying
ourselves a lot and working together as a unit, and you are able to see the
results of that.”
When it was revealed that Shami had, with his final
wicket, surpassed Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath’s record of 44 wickets taken
for India in World Cups, loud applause broke out around Wankhede Stadium.
“Yeah, I am trying (to do my best), as always,
trying to pitch the ball in the right areas and trying to find the right
rhythm, because in big tournaments, if you lose rhythm it’s very difficult to
get it back,” Shami said. “So right from the start, the attempt has
been to focus on the right areas and right lengths, and it’s working, so why
not try to repeat it?”
After Jasprit Bumrah (1-8) and Mohammed Siraj (3-16)
had taken the first four wickets for just 14 runs, Shami entered the bowl and
had one wicket bowled, two caught behind by KL Rahul, one caught in the slips,
and one caught at point. Not LBW. He has taken 45 World Cup wickets, but none
of them have been LBWs.
He didn’t quite know how to explain this. “No
rocket science. Just a matter of rhythm, good food, keep your mind uncluttered,
and, most importantly, the love of the people. The support we get in India has
a huge role. When you go out of India, you get so much support from Indians. So
I will keep trying to make everyone happy.”