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Did You Know? Ravi Shastri Interrupted Shami's Biryani Feast To Fuel Magical Spell Vs SA

Akshita Patel

When Ravi Shastri, Mohammed Shami clashed over biryani [Source: @cricketkaushik, @RaviShastriOfc/X.com]When Ravi Shastri, Mohammed Shami clashed over biryani [Source: @cricketkaushik, @RaviShastriOfc/X.com]

During India’s third Test vs South Africa at Johannesburg in 2018, Mohammed Shami bowled a magical spell of 5/28 in the fourth inning to help India win by 63 runs. However, his resurgence was a result of an argument with head coach Ravi Shastri over a plate of biryani.

The Test match was India’s only chance to save face in South Africa, as they lost the 3-game series with a 0-2 trail. In Johannesburg, the men in blue set a 241-run target for the Proteas, and the home side had 124 runs on the board by day 4 with a strong partnership between Hashim Amla (52) and Dean Elgar (86). 

When Ravi Shastri Clashed With Shami Over Biryani

With South Africa needing just 104 runs with 7 wickets in hand, India’s pacer Mohammed Shami feasted on a plate full of biryani during lunch break. Head coach Ravi Shastri, taking to Sony Sports, revealed that he taunted Shami, saying his hunger is just limited to food.

"It was Johannesburg, final day. There was enough heat in that game. That match on the last day, they needed 240, just 100 runs to get. Eight wickets in hand. It was lunchtime and as I was walking past, Shami's plate. He had a massive helping of biryani there. Shami told me, ‘Le le plate. Nahi chahiye biryani, bhaad main gaya biryani.' He got angry," Shastri said (via India Today).

This comment irked Shami as he set the plate aside and channelled his anger into the field. Coach Shastri was well aware of this and asked the team to leave the fast bowler by himself and not pacify him.

"Ravi came to me and said, 'Woh (Shami) gussa hai, usko aise he chod do.' (He is angry. Leave him alone). 'Agar kuch baat karna hai toh bolo, thoda wicket leke mujhe batao' (If he wants to speak, tell him to go get wickets in the middle)" Bharat Arun said in the same video.

Shastri's Taunt Led To Match-Winning Spell From Shami

After tea, Mohammed Shami ran riot, picking up 5 wickets for 28 runs in just 12.3 overs. South Africa collapsed from a comfortable 144/3 to 177 all out, handing India a 63-run victory, a face-saving win in an otherwise tough series.

Bowling coach Bharat Arun later revealed that as Shami returned to the dressing room following the emphatic win, he was greeted not with applause alone, but with the very plate of biryani he had earlier abandoned.

And Shami made peace with Ravi Shastri, saying he should make him angry every now and then to channel his inner beast.

“Game over. He came over and Arun went and gave 'biryani le, ab jitna khaana hai, khaa le (Take the biryani, eat as much as you want). Humko hamesha gussa karao phir theek ho jaate hai (Make me angry all the time, then I become fine). Typical Shami," Shastri added.

With 229 wickets from 64 Tests at an average of 27.71, including six five-wicket hauls, Shami remains one of India’s most potent red-ball bowlers.