The Indian cricket fraternity witnessed an overwhelming moment of support when Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the players of Team India following their defeat against Australia in the ICC Cricket World Cup final. In an intimate and deep-hearted show of encouragement, PM Modi’s gesture provided much-needed solace to the disheartened players. Speedster Mohammed Shami, reflecting on the significance of such a gesture, expressed that the Prime Minister’s act of backing the team instilled a renewed sense of confidence within the players.
The final, played at the illustrious Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, culminated in another chapter of disappointment for the Indian fans. Australia asserted their cricketing supremacy by overcoming the Men in Blue with a six-wicket victory, thereby securing their sixth World Cup title and continuing India’s drought of ICC trophies since 2014.
In the afterglow of the intense competition, Mohammed Shami articulated the importance of the Prime Minister’s visit to the squad. Speaking to the media in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, Shami described the moment as singular and vital in uplifting the team’s morale, which understandably had sunk low after such a tough loss. “It is something really different,” Shami remarked, acknowledging the unique encouragement from the nation’s leader, symbolizing the unwavering support the country has for its cricket heroes.
Despite the overwhelming loss, Shami was quick to defend the team’s performance throughout the tournament, asserting that it was just not their fortunate day when it came to execution and scoring runs. “Overall we all performed really well,” the pacer said, emphasizing that there was no dearth of skill or confidence within the team, just that unavoidable bad day that comes unannounced in the world of sports.
Shami, turning out to be one of India’s standout performers in the World Cup, had an extraordinary run filled with record-breaking achievements. During India’s robust campaign, which saw them finish as runners-up to Australia, Shami clinched 24 wickets across seven matches with an impressive average of 10.70 and an exceptional strike rate of 12.20. His remarkable best bowling figures of 7/57, along with three five-wicket hauls, earned him the leading wicket-taker title in the tournament.
The final match itself saw Australia demonstrate tactical acumen by choosing to bowl first, leading to India setting a target of 240 runs in their full quota of 50 overs. On a pitch posing challenges for batsmen, contributions from skipper Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul became the backbone of India’s total. Australia’s bowling lineup, helmed by Mitchell Starc and backed by the likes of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, performed efficiently to stifle India’s efforts to post a larger score.
The Australian chase witnessed a staggering opening spell by India, but it was swiftly overcome with powerhouse innings by Travis Head, who earned the ‘Player of the Match’ accolade for his century, and Marnus Labuschagne, who together thwarted the Indian bowling attack, leading Australia to a six-wicket victory.
As the World Cup concluded, words of encouragement from the Prime Minister were a balm to the warriors in blue. The support extended by PM Modi reflects the nation’s collective heart that beats in unison with the rhythm of cricket – a game interwoven with India’s identity, where every win and loss is a shared narrative of millions. And as Mohammed Shami’s words echoed, such gestures are indeed important; they are the threads that uplift the spirit of sportsmanship and solder the cricketing community, binding the nation through the highs and lows of this cherished sport.