Mahendra Singh Dhoni Never Gets Angry, says Mohammed Shami
Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been Team India skipper during all of Mohammed Shami's international debuts - Test, ODI and Twenty20.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: March 13, 2015 04:13 pm IST
Fast-improving paceman Mohammad Shami hailed India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Friday, claiming the world champions' skipper never gets angry. (Complete World Cup coverage | Stats | Points Table | History)
India have romped through the first round of the World Cup, winning five from five and comfortably wrapping up their place in the quarter-finals ahead of Saturday's last Pool B game against Zimbabwe at Eden Park. (Zimbabwe seek happy farewell from World Cup 2015)
"I am lucky that all my debuts -- Tests, one-dayers, Twenty20s -- all have come under Dhoni and the way he handles things looks good to me," said Shami. (Kohli has set an example for youngsters: Dav Whatmore)
"He keeps me tension-free and never says anything about mistakes, he never gets angry and gives me peace. He talks in a smooth manner and it is good for a bowler that the captain backs him and that's the biggest plus for me. (India 'fantastic' but New Zealand 'favourites': David Warner)
"I feel it's better than domestic matches and that has given gave me a lot of confidence." (India's winning streak give TV ratings a boost)
Shami, who turned 25 on Monday, is India's leading wicket-taker at the World Cup with 12 wickets, including a best of 4-35 in the opening victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in Adelaide last month.
"Look the motivation is to win the World Cup," said Shami.
"Everyone back home expects us to win, whether they are fans in India or elsewhere and our focus is also on that," said Shami.
"In 2011 it was the last World Cup for Sachin Tendulkar. This time, you don't know who is playing their last World Cup so we are focused on winning."