"Mohammed Shami threw food, dragged Bharat Arun to leave him"- Ravi Shastri sends shockwaves
Published - 18 Jun 2025, 11:57 AM | Updated - 18 Jun 2025, 12:24 PM
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In one of the most unexpected moments in Indian cricket, a simple plate of biryani ended up sparking a match-winning spell from Mohammed Shami in South Africa.
Actually, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri and bowling coach Bharat Arun recently shared a funny but powerful story about Mohammed Shami from India’s memorable win in the Johannesburg Test.
Ravi Shastri and Bharat Arun revealed that Shami got angry over a plate of biryani during lunch, and that anger pushed him to bowl a match-winning spell against South Africa in Johannesburg back in 2018.
During the third and final Test against South Africa, India was already down 0-2 in the series, and the hosts looked set for a clean sweep, but a biryani twist changed everything.
Ravi Shastri and Bharat Arun reveal how biryani turned Mohammed Shami into game-changer Johannesburg
The incident unfolded on the fourth day of the Johannesburg Test, when South Africa needed 223 runs with eight wickets left to whitewash India in the three-match Test series. At lunch in the dressing room, Shastri spotted Shami with a big plate of biryani.
As India was in a position to lose the game to the Proteas side, Shastri questioned Mohammed Shami about the timing after watching the pacer cross him with a full plate of biryani, and Arun was also there, watching the epic exchange unfold between them.
Ravi Shastri recalls on Sony Sports, “It was Johannesburg. Final day. There was enough heat in that game. That match on the last day, they needed 240, just 100 runs to get. Eight wickets in hand. It was lunchtime, and as I was walking past, Shami's plate. He had a massive helping of biryani there.”
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Bharat Arun recalls how Ravi Shastri made Mohammad Shami angry
Bharat Arun recalled in the same video posted by Star Sports, “Ravi walked across and asked him, 'tera bhook idhar theek ho gaya kya?' (Is your stomach full after eating the biryani?)”
Shami didn’t like the comment. The Bengal pacer was angry and fired up, and he pushed the plate aside and said he didn’t want the biryani anymore. That moment lit a fire in him. The former Indian head coach recalled Shami saying, “Le le plate. Nahi chahiye biryani, bhaad main gaya biryani (Take the plate. I don't want the biryani. It can go to hell.”
After the heated exchange, Shastri told Arun to let Mohammed Shami be. He noticed Shami was angry and said it’s better to leave him alone.
The former bowling coach recalled, “Ravi came to me and said, 'Woh (Shami) gussa hai, usko aise he chod doh.' (He is angry.) Leave him alone. 'Agar kuch baat karna hai toh bolo, thoda wicket leke mujhe batao' (If he wants to speak, tell him to go get wickets in the middle). Being angry is one thing, but to channelize that in your bowling is another thing.”
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Ravi Shastri shares Mohammed Shami's reaction after Bharat Arun served him the same plate of biryani
Well, Shami’s anger turned out to be a big boost for India after the lunch incident. He came back and delivered a brilliant performance in the final innings. He took five important wickets, and South Africa’s last seven batters could score only 22 runs together.
His strong spell helped India win the third and final Test match by 63 runs, making it their second-ever Test win at the Wanderers Stadium and only their third Test victory in South Africa. After India’s memorable win in Johannesburg, Bharat playfully offered the same plate of biryani back to Shami.
It turned into a funny moment as everyone laughed. Mohammed Shami joked that getting angry seems to work for him. Shastri recalled, “Game over. He came over, and Arun went and gave him the biryani: "Le, ab jitna khaana hai, khaa le" (Take the biryani, eat as much as you want). Humko hamesha gussa karao phir theek ho jaate hai (Make me angry all the time, then I become fine). Typical Shami.”
“𝘏𝘶𝘮𝘬𝘰 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘩𝘢 𝘨𝘶𝘴𝘴𝘢 𝘬𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘰… 𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘩𝘰 𝘫𝘢𝘢𝘵𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘪!” 🤭
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) June 17, 2025
Ravi Shastri & Bharat Arun drop a gem on Mohammed Shami, form, and… BIRYANI. 👀
Watch 'Bharat Chale Chalo, Kahani 21-22 ki' only on Sony Sports Network TV channels & Sony LIV.… pic.twitter.com/1RpouJhKlg
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