Mohammed Shami 'took injections regularly' during World Cup to manage pain: Report

Mohammed Shami missed the first four matches of the ODI World Cup 2023, which was played in India, but returned to script a memorable campaign as the hosts reached the final. Shami signed off with 24 wickets from seven matches at an average of 10.70 and a strike rate of 12.20. Shami achieved all this while playing with ‘chronic heel issue’ throughout the World Cup and was forced to take injections to manage the pain, a report has claimed. “Shami has a chronic left heel issue. A lot of people don’t know that he took injections regularly during World Cup and played the entire tournament through pain,” an unnamed former Bengal teammate of Shami was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. “But you must understand that as you grow older, recovery from each niggle or big injury takes that more time,” he added. Shami was forced out of the first four matches in the World Cup because India opted for all-rounder Shardul Thakur at No 8, however, an ankle injury to Hardik Pandya midway through the tournament forced Men in Blue to bring in Suryakumar Yadav and Shami into the playing XI. Shami finished the World Cup as the highest wicket-taker, ahead of Australia’s Adam Zampa who took 23 wickets from 11 matches. The pacer from Bengal played a pivotal role in propelling India to the final where they lost to Australia. His absence was also felt massively as India lost by an innings to South Africa in the first Test at Centurion to go down 1-0 in the two-match series. Praisdh Krishna and Shardul Thakur were the change bowlers to Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj and a lack of proper support to new-ball bowlers worked against Team India as they suffered an innings and 32 runs to the Proteas inside three days.