New Delhi: Mohammed Shami, a veteran of the Indian all-format pace, who has emerged as the match-winner across all three formats, has delivered numerous memorable performances and has been recognized as Men In Blue's primary choice in the ODI World Cups. Turning 34 on Tuesday, Shami's journey in international cricket began with a memorable debut in 2013, where he achieved a remarkable feat of picking up nine wickets in Eden Gardens.
Since his debut, Shami has established himself as a force to be reckoned with, known for his pace, his ability to deliver toe-crushing yorkers, and his knack for elevating his performance in high-pressure situations. He has consistently delivered match-winning performances in major ICC tournaments, particularly in the 50-over World Cups, despite facing injuries. This has earned him a significant following.
Shami has formed a formidable pace duo with Jasprit Bumrah across all formats of the game. With a total of 448 international wickets across 188 matches, including 229 in Tests, 195 in ODIs, and 24 in T20Is, Shami is recognized as one of the finest pacers of the modern era.
Here are some notable records held by Shami across all formats of the game:
- Five-wicket haul on Test debut
Shami is among the select group of Indian bowlers to have achieved a five-wicket haul on their Test debut. He is the third pacer to accomplish this feat. In his debut Test against the West Indies at Eden Gardens, Shami took 5/47, including crucial wickets of Marlon Samuels, Darren Sammy, and Denesh Ramdin.
- India's go-to man in the 50-over World Cup
Despite not being the first-choice bowler in ICC Cricket World Cups throughout his career, Shami has consistently proven his worth when his team required his services. With 55 wickets in 18 matches, Shami ranks fifth in the history of the tournament for wickets taken and is India's leading wicket-taker.
He holds several records in the 50-over World Cup. Shami is the only Indian to have taken a World Cup hat-trick, achieving this milestone against Afghanistan in the 2019 edition of the tournament.
In a match against New Zealand in the semifinals of the 2023 World Cup, Shami became the quickest player to reach a milestone of 50 wickets in the 50-over World Cup. His spell of 7/57 against the Kiwis remains the best performance by an Indian bowler in the 50-over World Cup and in ODIs as well.
With three five-wicket hauls, including two in the 2023 edition at home, Shami holds the record for the most World Cup five-wicket hauls. He finished the tournament as the leading wicket-taker, with 24 wickets in just seven matches at an average of 10.70 and an economy rate of 5.26.
He is also recognized as India's fastest bowler to achieve 100 ODI wickets, having reached this milestone in just 56 matches.
- A distinguished player of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Shami has represented notable teams such as the Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, and Gujarat Titans. His illustrious career in the IPL is marked by a remarkable record, achieving 127 wickets across 110 matches. He was honored with the 2023 IPL Purple Cap award for his outstanding performance, securing the title with 28 wickets in 17 matches, averaging 18.64, and achieving the best figures of 4/11 in the Super Over against Mumbai Indians while playing for Punjab Kings (PBKS).
A particularly memorable feat for Shami was his ability to hold off Mumbai Indians in the Super Over, successfully defending 6 runs for Punjab Kings (PBKS) in 2020.
Furthermore, Shami's prowess was instrumental in securing the 2022 IPL title with the Gujarat Titans.
