Former Indian team captain Sunil Gavaskar told how Ravi Shastri had encouraged Mohammed Shami during the 2018 tour of South Africa. Gavaskar told that after this Shami had completely changed. Shami has bowled well against South Africa in the third and final match of the series being played in Cape Town. He pushed South Africa on the back foot by taking two wickets in the same over at the Newlands ground.
Shami dismisses Temba Bavuma. He was playing very well and then in the same over he took the wicket of Kyle Vereyne. Umesh Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah also took wickets to bundle South Africa’s first innings for 210 runs. India had taken a 13-run lead in the first innings. By lunch on the third day, India had scored 130 runs for the loss of four wickets.
Shami took two wickets for 39 runs in 16 overs for India. Gavaskar recalled that Shami had bowled a similar spell during the 2018 tour of South Africa. He recalled that this tour had given new life to Shami’s career.
Gavaskar referred to an incident that happened in the dressing room of 2018 which shows how Shami’s words had encouraged Shami. He said Shastri’s wise words had energized Shami. The conditions were favorable for fast bowling and Shami did not disappoint the team with his performance.
Gavaskar said on the second day of the match, “The last time he played at the Wanderers was in 2018, when the team decided to stick with Mohammed Shami, he did not do very well. So he told Shami that if you can’t take wickets on the pitch, then… the thing is, I don’t know what ‘rocket’ Ravi Shastri gave him.’
The former captain said, ‘And then he came out to bowl and destroyed the South African team. Sometimes you know you have to put your hand on a player’s shoulder, sometimes you have to stick with him.
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