South Africa, for a number of years, had Imran Tahir as their premier wrist spinner and Tabraiz Shamsi looks at it as a challenge rather than a responsibility to rise to the occasion.
“I don’t see this as an additional responsibility. When Immy (Tahir’s nickname) was there in the team, my job was to do what’s best for the team and obviously with him not being there, I am the only wrist spinner in the team.
“But I have not shied away from challenges and India is another one of those,” the burly spinner was quoted as saying in Indian Express.
On Sunday (September 22) South Africa defeated India in a one-sided match by 9 wickets with 19 balls to spare in Bengaluru. India didn’t get off to a great start as they lost their top 3 batsmen at a score of 68, after which the Men in Blue never looked comfortable in the match.
In the third and final T20I of the three-match series, Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan looked in good touch who remained the top-scorer for the hosts with 36 runs till Proteas left-arm chinaman arrived.
There was a battle going on the ground between Shamsi and Dhawan. In the fifth over of the match, Dhawan took the aerial route and hit two consecutive sixes off Shamsi in his first over. But in the second over of his quota, the left-armer took revenge by taking the precious wicket of the Indian opener who was caught by Temba Bavuma.
After dismissing Dhawan, the South African spinner celebrated in a unique way, in which he was found removing his boot and pretending to make a phone call with it.
Rassie van der Dussen reveals the reason behind Tabraiz Shamsi’s celebration
During the post-match press conference, the South African vice-captain Rassie van der Dussen was asked about Shamsi’s shoe celebration. Answering one of the reporter’s questions, Rassie said that Shamsi makes a call to Imran Tahir after taking any big wicket who is one of his heroes. “Yeah, Shamsi always phones to Immy (Imran Tahir). Immy is obviously one of his heroes, and they work together a lot. So it was a nice moment for Shamsi to take a big wicket of Dhawan for us like Immy for us,” Dussen said.
