Mohammed Shami waged silent battle through pain, played 2023 World Cup with injections

Initially sidelined due to team combination, Shami's inclusion in India's playing 11 in the recently concluded ODI World Cup only came after Hardik Pandya's unfortunate injury. It was a turning point, not just for India, but for Shami himself. He put up a performance for the ages, one that will be remembered in the annals of Indian Cricket's history.

Shami unleashed his venom with his immaculate seam presentation and pace. He sent top-order batsmen crashing back to the pavilion, bamboozled them with late movement, and revelled in the sight of bewildered faces staring back at him. His spellbinding 7/57 against New Zealand in the semi-final stands as a testament to his mastery, dismantling their batting line-up with ruthless precision.

Shami's bowling wasn't just about technical expertise; it was about heart and resilience. He channelled the disappointment of missing out in the initial stages into every yorker, every searing outswinger. He ended up with 24 wickets in just 7 games which is a monumental achievement.

Shami's act of bravery

A new report reveals a hidden truth. Shami's spectacular performance magic was while he was battling a chronic heel issue, each step towards the bowling crease fuelled by injections.

"Shami has a chronic left heel issue. A lot of people don’t know that he took injections regularly during the World Cup and played the entire tournament through pain, but you must understand that as you grow older, recovery from each niggle or big injury takes that more time,” a domestic teammate was quoted as saying by News 18.

Shami battled through the pain and this makes his story even greater than what it already was. Consequently, he received treatment but wasn't able to recover in time for the ongoing 2-match Test series against South Africa. His absence was felt deeply as India were thrashed in the first Test in Centurion. India's pace bowlers, apart from the ever-reliable Jasprit Bumrah, failed to turn up which resulted in a poor performance in conditions that were conducive for fast bowling. India will have to manage without Shami in Cape Town as well and fans will hope for a better performance.