Bowlers playing high-intensity big matches and even World Cups with injuries is a pretty common sighting, with painkillers and sometimes even the magic spray giving them the temporary relief that’s needed for them to perform. Recently, both Jofra Archer and Mark Wood of England revealed how they played with incessant pain in the recently concluded World Cup and now India’s talisman pacer Mohammad Shami has come up with a harrowing revelation.

"The knee broke in the first match itself. My thighs and knees were the same size, doctors used to take out fluid from them everyday. I used to take 3 painkillers.”

"Before the semi-final I had told my teammates that I couldn't take it any longer. On the day of the match, I had a lot of pain. I discussed it with the management but they said it will be alright.”

The pacer then recalled how he walked up to Dhoni to say he was done after bowling just 5 overs, after which the then Indian skipper instilled confidence and self-belief in him to finish off the spell. Shami was given a target of 60 runs by the team management and eventually, the Bengal pacer ended the semi-final with figures of 0/68 off his quota of 10 overs.

"The condition was very bad even after I took an injection. I told Mahi bhai that I cannot bowl because I cannot run any longer. But he told me I trust you, any other part-timer will also go for runs.

“He (Dhoni) just told me don't give away more than 60 runs. I hadn't played in a worse condition than that. Some said my career was over, some said I shouldn't have played. But touchwood I'm still here now in front of you all.”