'I Am Hurt’: Mohammed Shami Condemns Mitchell Marsh's World Cup Trophy Gesture

Australia secured their record-extending sixth ODI World Cup title by defeating India by 6 wickets in the final.

Mohammed Shami in action.

Source : Getty

India's fast-bowler Mohammed Shami has criticised Australia's all-rounder Mitchell Marsh for casually resting his feet on the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 trophy following their victory against hosts India, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, November 19.

Australia secured their record-extending sixth ODI World Cup title by defeating India by 6 wickets in the final. In the aftermath of their win, captain Pat Cummins shared a photo on Instagram showing Marsh seated with his feet resting on the ODI World Cup trophy, which sparked controversy and went viral online.

When asked about Marsh’s act of placing his feet on the ODI World Cup trophy, Shami expressed his disappointment, emphasising the significance of the trophy that teams worldwide aspire to lift.

“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,” remarked Shami during an interview with Puma.

PM Modi’s Visit To Indian Dressing Room

Following the defeat in the final, the team were disheartened despite their strong performance leading up to that point. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul—all looked deeply disappointed after the loss. Prime Minister Narendra Modi entered the dressing room to share some motivational words with the players. While this gesture was appreciated by some, members of opposition parties criticised his involvement. However, according to Shami, Modi's words were instrumental in helping the players recover from the setback.

"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," Shami remarked regarding Modi's interaction with the team immediately after the final loss. 

Shami emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the 2023 ODI World Cup, taking 24 wickets in just seven matches. Initially sidelined in India’s earlier matches during the league stage, Shami got his opportunity when Hardik Pandya sustained an injury against Bangladesh. He seized the chance, delivering an impressive five-wicket haul against New Zealand in Dharamshala.

Throughout the tournament, Shami consistently performed at a high level, setting multiple records. Although he managed to dismiss David Warner in the final, he couldn’t halt the Australian team from claiming the ODI World Cup trophy.