Mohammed Shami has subtly criticised former Indian captain Virat Kohli and ex-head coach Ravi Shastri for his exclusion from the semi-final match against New Zealand in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup. Shami had showcased an exceptional performance in the limited opportunities he received during the tournament.

During the 2019 World Cup, Shami took 13 wickets in just 3 matches including a hat-trick against Afghanistan. Despite these impressive figures, he was left out of the playing XI for the crucial semi-final at Old Trafford.

Speaking on Shubhankar Mishra's podcast, Shami said he was ignored by the playing XI despite performing well in the tournament. The pacer added that there was no proper communication with regards to his exclusion from the 2019 World Cup semifinal.

"Mere dimaag mein sawaal aata hai, team ko joh players chaiye joh perform karta hai. 3 matches mein 13 wickets li hai, aur kya loge aap mere se?'. Nah mere pass sawal hai naa uska answer hai. Mujhe mauka doge toh mein jaake baat karunga. Apna skills dikhaunga jab mere haath mein ball hogi." Shami said. ("My mind is filled with questions, the team needs players who perform. I have taken 13 wickets in 3 matches, what more do you expect from me? Neither have I questions nor the answer. If you give me a chance, I will go and talk. I will show my skills when the ball is in my hand.")

Fast forward to the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, and Shami once again was not the first choice in the playing XI. However, an injury to Hardik Pandya opened the door for him. Seizing the opportunity, Shami delivered phenomenal performances, ending the tournament as the highest wicket-taker with 24 wickets, playing a important role in leading India to the final.