Senior India fast bowler Mohammed Shami has said that PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the dressing room was encouraging and resurrected his and Team India’s players’ confidence after the World Cup 2023 final loss.
India succumbed to a 6-wicket loss against Pat Cummins’ Australian side in the World Cup 2023 final last Sunday in Ahmedabad, at the gigantic Narendra Modi Stadium where over 90,000 fans were in attendance.
Australia’s immaculate bowling and fielding performances were followed by a thunderous century from opener Travis Head and a sedate fifty from Marnus Labuschagne which sealed Australia’s 6th ODI World Cup title. Since 1999, Australia have now won 5 of the last 7 ODI World Cup tournaments.
India, who were hoping to do a repeat of 1983 and 2011, fell at the final hurdle after winning 10 consecutive games. A billion hearts were once again broken as India’s decade-long ICC title drought for the senior men’s team extended.
The Indian players, for some of whom it was the last shot at the ODI World Cup trophy, were distraught and there were reports of a few of them crying in the dressing room, including captain Rohit Sharma.
Video: If your PM is with you then your confidence builds up: Mohammed Shami
After the loss, India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, made a visit to the Indian dressing room to encourage the players and the staff and show them his support.
Fast bowler Mohammed Shami, who finished as the leading wicket-taker in the World Cup with 24 wickets, spoke, was seen hugging Modi in the dressing room video that went viral.
Upon returning to his hometown Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, Mohammed Shami was asked about the meeting with PM Modi. The fast bowler said that PM Modi’s words were encouraging and build some confidence in him and the team.
“It was very important. At that time, we had lost the match. In such a situation, when the Prime Minister encourages you, it is a different moment. When your morale is down, then if your PM is with you then your confidence builds up,” Mohammed Shami was quoted as saying by ANI.
Watch it here:
#WATCH | Amroha, Uttar Pradesh: On PM Modi meeting the Indian Cricket team after the match, Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami says, “It is very important. At that time, we had lost the match. In such a situation, when the Prime Minister encourages you, it is a different moment.… pic.twitter.com/kEpuhaF19A
— ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2023
Mohammed Shami is next expected to be seen on the tour of South Africa.
