India recently went top of the ICC Test rankings with an impressive performance in the second test match of the series against New Zealand and Mohammed Shami played a very big part in it. He took six wickets in the test match which India won by 178 runs.

The 26-year-old maintained his dignity and gave his best  for the country during the Kolkata Test against New Zealand, even though his 14-month-old daughter was admitted in the ICU. He has set a huge example for commitment to one’s game.

It was on the second day of the second Test at the Eden Gardens that his baby daughter Aira began to suffer from high fever. Soon, she was admitted in the ICU of a Kolkata hospital as she was unable to breathe properly.

Mohammed Shami played the entire match despite the fact that his 14-months-old daughter Aira, had been in the ICU on the 2nd day of the match.

Shami was informed about this at the end of second day’s play. Every day after the end of the match, Shami rushed to hospital to see his daughter and return to the team hotel in the night.

However, he didn’t take his guard off even for a small moment. In the second innings, Shami was exceptional with his reverse swing and making the ball talk as the batsmen found it very hard to negate his late movement.

The bowler was virtually unplayable on the 4th day of the Test. As Shami took the final wicket of Trent Boult, the Indian players and cricket fans broke out into celebrations completely unaware of the fact that the bowler played the game despite her daughter being in the ICU.

Smile face pic.twitter.com/n8oVcri26L

— Mohammed Shami (@MdShami11) September 15, 2016

While worried about his daughter, Shami did not forget his duty to his country and team, and went on to take total 6 wickets in the match. India went on to win their 250th Test at home by 178 runs, the series 2-0 and with it the No 1 rank in Tests as well.

The whole of Eden Gardens, which is Shami’s home venue in domestic cricket, was behind him whenever he would run in to bowl from the top of his bowling mark.

“My captain had given me huge inspiration every night after I returned from the hospital. So, I am extremely thankful to him and also thankful to the mates who also gave me belief that my daughter must get cured by the time Test ends,” Shami said.

During the match, Shami also got praises from TV commentators like Sanjay Manjrekar who said,

“We are delighted to have watched Shami for his excellent bowling in spite of the fact that he was going through hard times due to his daughter’s illness.“

Aairah was discharged from the hospital on Monday (October 3) and the good news was conveyed to Shami at the end of the match.

Shami’s on the field performance was laudable, the emotional state he was in makes it even more praiseworthy.