'I Am Hurt' - Mohammed Shami condemns Mitchell Marsh for putting leg on top of World Cup trophy

After losing the Cricket World Cup final to Australia on Sunday, an image of Australian cricketer Mitchell Marsh putting his feet on the trophy went viral on social media. The action was heavily criticised, with many users suggesting that Marsh disrespected the trophy and the game. Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami, who was the highest wicket-taker at the World Cup, expressed his disappointment with the gesture.

He stated that it hurt him to see someone disrespect the trophy that all teams fight for. This act of Marsh certainly made him sad. Furthermore, Shami also revealed he doesn't check the pitch before going into a match. Instead, the pacer preferred to see how it behaves when he bowls on the allotted pitch. 

"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," Mohammed Shami told reporters on Thursday.

"Generally, bowlers check the pitch after arriving at the ground. I never go close to the wicket because you will know how it behaves only when you bowl on it. Then why take the pressure? It's best to keep it simple, keep yourself relaxed, and only then you will perform better," Shami said in a chat with PUMA India.

When you see the team performing well, it gives you satisfaction: Mohammed Shami

He also spoke about his initial absence from India's playing XI in the World Cup, stating that it was important to be mentally strong when sitting out matches. Shami ended the campaign as the top wicket-taker, with 24 scalps in just 7 matches.

"When you sit out for four matches, you need to be mentally strong. Sometimes you are under pressure but when you see the team performing well and going in a good direction, it gives you satisfaction," he added.

The Australian team are currently playing a five-match T20I series against India. Today the first match of the series took place at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam where India emerged victorious, beating the Aussies by two wickets to kick off the series on a positive note.