"Felt Really Bad, It Shouldn't Have Happened.."- Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami picked up 7/57 in the first semi-final against New Zealand in Mumbai on Wednesday to help India reach the finals. In the process, he became the quickest to get to 50 wickets in the World Cup in just 17 innings. 

Shami now has 54 wickets at an average of 12.90, an economy rate of over 5, and a strike rate of 15.33. He also has four fifers in World Cup matches surpassing Mitchell Starc’s three. 

Though the Indian pacer turned out to be a hero in the game, there was a moment where he turned from hero to zero. He dropped Kane Williamson’s catch in the 29th over of the Kiwi innings to put the Indian fans into silence at the Wankhede. It was a regulation chance that he dropped at mid-on. Williamson just crossed 50 at that point and there was a chance to end his partnership with Daryl Mitchell. 

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Speaking after the match, Shami opened up on the drop catch saying that he should not have dropped the catch at the crucial juncture of the game. 

“Uska catch chhuta, bohut kharab laga. Wo catch nahi chhutna chahie tha (I felt very bad when I dropped his catch. I shouldn’t have dropped it),” Shami said.

However, he came back and took two wickets in the 33rd over to turn the game in India’s favor. He dismissed Williamson and Tom Latham in back-to-back deliveries to bring India back into the game. 

“The focus was to try and take pace off, see if they’re hitting it in the air. It was a chance we had to take” he said about the bowling plan. 

I Believe in Getting Wickets With The New Ball: Mohammed Shami

Shami did not play in the first four games for India. He has picked up 23 wickets in the next six games and is the to-wicket taker in the tournament currently. broke a plethora of records in the process and made the Indian bowling attack stand out. He also now has the best figures for an Indian bowler in World Cups and the most fifers in World Cups as well. 

“My return started against New Zealand. We talk a lot of variations, but I still believe in pitching it up and getting wickets with the new ball” Shami spoke about his bowling, 

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