Smriti Mandhana Recalls Facing Mohammed Shami in Net Practice Incident

Indian women's cricket team star opener Smriti Mandhana shared a lighthearted memory from a net session at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, where she faced veteran fast bowler Mohammed Shami during his injury rehabilitation. Speaking alongside teammate Jemimah Rodrigues and former Indian captain Rohit Sharma on the web series Double Trouble, Mandhana recalled facing Shami's pace while he was recovering and working his way back to full fitness.

Mandhana explained that Shami had assured her he would reduce his bowling speed to around 120 km/h (approx. 75 mph) and promised not to bowl directed at her body. However, the adjustment to seam movement and bounce proved challenging. After missing the first two deliveries outside off-stump, Mandhana was caught off guard by a sharp in-dipping delivery on the third ball that struck her directly on her inner thigh.

Describing the resulting injury with good humor, she noted that the impact left a severe bruise that turned black, blue, and green, keeping her leg swollen for ten days and making movement difficult.

Reacting to the story during the show, Rohit Sharma jokingly remarked that Shami is notorious among batters for being extremely competitive during net sessions regardless of the situation. The incident highlighted the intensity of net sessions among national team players, offering fans an engaging behind-the-scenes look at interactions between India's premier men's and women's cricketers.