Watch: Mohammed Shami's savage 'World Cup' dig at Rohit Sharma, Rahul Dravid leaves them red-faced

Mohammed Shami was at his hilarious best at last month’s CEAT Annual Awards 2024 night, where the Indian pacer was honored with the Men's Test Bowler of the Year award. During the star-studded event, Shami took a hilarious dig at Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid.

Actually, Star Sports shared a video on social media platform X on Monday, September 2, where the host Mayanti Langer Binny invited star pacer Mohammed Shami to the stage and recalled about his unusual start in the ODI World Cup 2023 at home.

Mohammed Shami's playful jab at Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid goes viral

Despite his vast experience and form, Mohammed Shami was benched for India's first four matches due to the team combination until Hardik Pandya got injured and was ruled out of the ODI World Cup 2023. The Indian pacer was asked by Mayanti how he managed to stay match-ready despite the uncertainty surrounding his inclusion in the playing XI at the mega event.

With a look at Rohit Sharma, Mohammed Shami responded with a grin, noting that he had become used to such situations, leaving the Indian skipper and everybody sitting in the hall in splits. The room burst into laughter as Shami shared that he faced similar situations during the 2015 and 2019 World Cups.

Adding a lighthearted jab at Rohit Sharma and former coach Rahul Dravid, Shami joked that the team management never thought of benching him once they saw him perform. The pacer said that he always delivered when he got the opportunity, and he used to do it, leaving Rohit and Dravid smiling.

In the last three World Cups, Mohammed Shami had to wait for his moment, but his response to this challenge has been nothing short of inspiring. Unlike many who might have succumbed to frustration, Shami chose to stay in peak condition, maintaining his fitness and readiness at all times.

I am always ready to give myself a chance: Mohammed Shami

His approach is a blend of hard work and mental resilience, showing that preparation is as crucial as skills. When Shami finally got his chance, he seized the opportunity with both hands, proving that his time on the bench had only sharpened his resolve. Notably, Mohammed Shami had finished the World Cup 2023 as the highest wicket-taker with 24 wickets in just seven matches.

Mohammed Shami said, “I think I got used to it because I had the same start in 2015, 2019, and 2023. All three World Cups had the same situation. And when I got a chance, the captain and coaches gave me a chance. It turned out that they never thought of making me sit on the bench.

You can call it hard work. You can call it anything. But I am always ready to give myself a chance; I can do something. But I can only do something when you give me a chance. Otherwise, I can only make you drink water from the bench. So, it’s better to take a chance in your hands and seize the opportunity when you get a chance.”

Watch here the viral clip:

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! 💥

Watch the Full episode - CEAT Cricket Awards on YouTube channel pic.twitter.com/ZJOkfryXpt

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) September 2, 2024

Notably, Mohammed Shami has been out of action since the 2023 ODI World Cup, where he suffered an ankle injury and underwent surgery in February 2024. He is currently working hard at the NCA to achieve match fitness and is likely to return to action with the New Zealand Test series.