DHARAMSHALA: Mohammed Siraj is goofing around even as Mohammed Shami is fronting regular questions from the media. This is moments after the team has come through in a critical game against New Zealand. Siraj takes a strategic place near the exit, just behind and to the right of where Shami is sitting. The arc lights are on the senior pacer and for Shami, Siraj’s location is a blind spot.
Someone asks a question on the camaraderie between India’s pace trio and adds, “Siraj bhi yahaan hai (Siraj is also here).” Shami suddenly turns around and asks, “Where,” then bursts into laughter. “Ab to hoodie nikaal de (you can show your face now),” he tells Siraj, laughing. When the team is on a roll, everyone is all smiles.
ICC World Cup 2023: India beat New Zealand by By 4 wickets in Dharamshala
Moments later, Siraj himself would reveal – in a more informal mixed-zone setting – how the team has deliberately worked behind the scenes to improve team bonding, with the World Cup specifically in mind.
India have now won five games on the trot, with their key pacers and batters finding form at the right time. Virat Kohli is chasing both centuries and targets with brazen impunity. Equally brazenly, Rohit Sharma is looking to out-bat the opposition in the first Powerplay.
Ravindra Jadeja showed how much of an asset he can be with the bat. Jasprit Bumrah has timed his return from injury to perfection.
India star pacer Mohammed Shami breaks Anil Kumble’s record, makes triumphant return in ICC World Cup 2023
Shami, who expressed pain at having been forced to sit out, returned with a match-winning five-haul wicket against the Kiwis. The team has come together well, and now looks bigger than the sum of its considerable parts.
Siraj, who said he had been struggling with his lengths for “three-four games”, hit the perfect spots straight away on Sunday to keep New Zealand on a firm leash in the first 10 overs – they managed only 34/2, the fourth lowest Powerplay score in this World Cup.
But apart from the specifics and the strategic planning – most of which doesn’t leave the dressing room – the team has also worked on the intangibles, which could explain some of the magic.
“The dressing room mahaul (atmosphere) is very good. No one was tense during the chase (against NZ). We are trusting each other and you can see the kind of success we are getting,” Siraj said.
“It’s not just about freedom in the dressing room… hum ek doosrey ke success ko enjoy kar rahey hai (we are enjoying each other’s success). That’s the most important thing… brothers ki tarah (like brothers). It’s not like no one talks to someone who has had a bad day. He is not ignored in the dressing room, he is spoken to, comforted. We all realise it is important to give him confidence if he has not performed. This is how we’ve been getting continuous success.”
Siraj revealed that efforts to firm up the ODI team bonding were first made on the tour to West Indies in July.
“Bilkul,” he said when asked if West Indies was the place where it all began. “The ODI members started talking to each other, about the importance of taking everyone together for the World Cup. This was the most important thing.
“What is bonding? We have lunch, sit by the pool, aid each other in recovery, listen to music together, we joke with each other, we offer support when the pressure is too much. We are a family away from the family.
“Whatever is happening outside the ground is as important as what happens on the ground. This is not a bilateral series of 3-4 games. The World Cup comes once in four years and each one of us wants to win it. It is important to create an environment for the World Cup.”
Shami too admitted that while being left out of the playing XI was not easy, the World Cup was a time to celebrate the success of teammates. “If you enjoy the success of others, you will get better results,” he said. “Till now, I was watching everything from the bench. I can do something only if I’m given the chance.
“When you are not playing, it is very difficult. But if your team is performing, your boys are in rhythm, then I don’t think you should feel guilty sitting outside. Because you are also a part of the team and a part of the World Cup. Everyone should enjoy each others’ success.”
India play England in Lucknow next Sunday but the team has opted to stay back in Dharamshala, enjoy the mountain air, take some time off and bond as a team.
“The outside world thinks that cricketers get separated when they rest for eight days. That’s not true. Cricketers can’t be separated. There are always some activities. Practice activities, some games, football. There’s no off. There’s never an off,” Shami said.