Mohammed Shami reacts to Mitchell Marsh placing feet on World Cup trophy

Australia secured their sixth ODI World Cup title by defeating India by 6 wickets in the final held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on November 19, 2023. Opting to bat first, India posted a modest total of 240 runs, and Australia successfully chased it down, thanks to a stellar century by Travis Head.

However, post-match celebrations took a controversial turn when a viral picture depicted Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh resting his foot on top of the coveted World Cup trophy. This act drew heavy criticism from Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami, who said that he was hurt after seeing the picture of Marsh displaying a lack of respect for the prestigious trophy.

“I am hurt. The trophy for which all the teams in the world fight, the trophy which you want to lift over your head, keeping a foot on that trophy did not make me happy,” Shami was quoted as saying by Zee News.

When your morale is low, having your PM with you boosts confidence: Mohammed Shami

Shami, the standout fast bowler, emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the ODI World Cup 2023, claiming an impressive 24 wickets in just 7 games. Despite his outstanding overall performance, he managed to secure only 1 wicket in the final match, leaving him disappointed. Emotional scenes unfolded as players like Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Siraj were seen in tears after the loss.

In a touching gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited India’s dressing room to offer consolation and support to the players. Shami appreciated this heartwarming gesture from the PM and spoke highly of him. He said that PM visiting the dressing room boosted their morale.

“It was very important. At that time, we had lost the match. In such a situation, when the Prime Minister encourages you, it creates a different moment. When your morale is low, having your PM with you boosts confidence” he said.