How Dhoni Helped Shami Get a Hat-trick…

The match between India and Afghanistan was an absolute cracker which had us all on the edge of our seats till the very last over. While India emerged victorious, Afghanistan put up a fantastic fight, seeming like they would take the match away from the Men in Blue at several points. With a low score of 224, India finished the first innings, leaving the other team a chance. Afghanistan took full advantage of their target and were progressing steadily towards reaching it.

The match was prolonged till the last over where Afghanistan needed 16 of 6 balls, not an impossible feat. Though 7 wickets were already down, Mohammad Nabi was still on strike and he was a settled batsman by then. Mohammed Shami shouldered the responsibility of the last over. The very first ball he bowled went for a four. The target was now 12 runs from 5 balls. Dhoni handed the ball to Shami, putting in a word. With a dot ball in the next delivery, it became 12 from 4. But the very next ball was out. Nabi was caught by Hardik Pandya at the boundary.

Shami’s prowess didn’t end here. He went on to get the next two batsmen Aftab Alam and Mujeeb Ur Rahman out in consecutive deliveries, making history. And of course, MS Dhoni had a role to play in that. The bowler shared what happened during the special moment: “Simple plan. He is a bowler, there was only one option – to bowl a yorker on the stumps. Mahi bhai also said the same thing, don’t try to change anything. You have a great chance of getting a hat-trick, such chances are very rare, you have to do the same thing. I did that and I’m very happy that I got the hat-trick.” Dhoni may not be the current skipper, but captaincy surely runs in his blood.