Shami Achieves Legendary Status, Guides India Through Crucial World Cup Test With A Stellar Performance After ‘40 Minutes of Bad Cricket’

Summary: Mohammed Shami showcases unprecedented prowess with his third 5-wicket haul at the 2023 World Cup, steering India clear of a potential New Zealand threat in the semifinals.

It came dangerously close to repeating history. After the heart-wrenching defeat in Manchester four years ago, New Zealand nearly broke the hearts of over a billion Indians once more. Despite an afternoon filled with legendary performances—Virat Kohli achieving his 50th ODI century and paying homage to his idol Sachin Tendulkar, Shreyas Iyer securing his second consecutive World Cup hundred, and India smashing their way to 397, the highest score ever in any ICC tournament knockout—New Zealand almost executed their trademark resilience. As the only team to reach the final of three ICC tournaments in the last eight years, they fiercely battled, nearly subjecting India to another episode of '40 minutes of bad cricket' before Mohammed Shami's express delivery derailed the Kiwi chase.

Even teams scoring around 400 can't rest easy. India faced pressure after an impressive 181-run partnership by Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell. The Wankhede fell silent as New Zealand's historical advantage became apparent. Imagine the cruelty if India had lost the 2023 World Cup at the same venue they won it 12 years ago.

For a solid 45 minutes, it looked that way. Even without dew and the ball moving quickly under the floodlights, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj struggled to control the swing. They gave away a bunch of wides, and suddenly, the usually challenging Wankhede Stadium, known in this World Cup for wrecking the top orders of chasing teams within the first five overs, played differently. New Zealand, instead, found themselves at 30/0, the best start for any team batting second. The cool breeze from nearby Marine Drive even favored the fast bowlers.

Still, Shami, at both critical moments, played the savior. His World Cup bowling mirrors Sehwag's impactful first-ball fours in 2011, securing crucial breakthroughs in five out of six games, including twice against New Zealand. Despite dismissing Conway and Ravindra, India was caught off guard by Mitchell and Williamson, leading to panic in the Indian camp.

Between 8:20 PM and 9, potential heartbreak loomed for India. Inside edges raced to the boundary, Jadeja overstepped, and missteps by Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, and Bumrah added pressure. Overthrows signaled India feeling the heat, and suspense-filled the air. To make matters worse, Shami dropping Williamson off Bumrah's bowling left over 33,000 spectators in shock. The question remained: Was this India's Herschelle Gibbs moment?

Shami shook off a dropped catch, showing a new confident persona. His two wickets in an over against New Zealand, including all four batters and three left-handers, turned the game in India's favor.

Shami in this World Cup is like a legendary level in a video game. He's made history as the first Indian with seven wickets in an innings, reached 50 World Cup wickets, and secured four five-fors. His legend keeps growing. Shami, visibly emotional after the match, said, "We lost in the last two World Cup semis. We didn't want to let go of this one chance.