Mohammed Shami emerged as Team India’s star at Wankhede Stadium, securing the title for the best bowling performance by an Indian bowler in ODI cricket. In the World Cup semi-final against New Zealand, Shami brilliantly claimed 7 wickets, showcasing his exceptional skills on the field.
Shami’s exceptional bowling performance led India to their 4th World Cup final. His outstanding statistics in the ongoing tournament, with an average of only 9 and a strike rate of 10 in 6 games, make him the top contender for the Player of the Tournament award.
The right-arm pacer, Mohammed Shami, achieved his 3rd five-wicket haul in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. It’s worth noting that in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, he secured a five-for against England. Shami’s recent accomplishment puts him ahead of Mitchell Starc, who has three five-wicket hauls in the history of the ICC Cricket World Cup.
Shami’s impressive spell of 7/57 played a crucial role in India’s comeback during the game, especially after the Kiwis had built a resilient partnership while chasing down 398. Shami demonstrated his ability to take wickets in quick succession by dismissing both Kiwi openers in successive overs. His impact was further highlighted as he removed the Kiwi skipper, Kane Williamson, and his deputy, Tom Latham, within a span of just three deliveries. Despite New Zealand’s strong effort, they fell short by 70 runs, with these crucial moments proving decisive.
Notably, Mohammed Shami now holds the record for the best bowling figures by an Indian in ODI cricket, surpassing Stuart Binny. His achievement of taking 7 wickets in an ODI makes him the first Indian bowler to accomplish this feat and only the 14th in the history of ODIs. In the World Cup context, Shami joins the elite group of bowlers with a 7-wicket haul, marking a significant contribution to India’s success in the game. It’s worth mentioning that while Shami’s performance is commendable, the overall record for the best bowling figures in an ODI still belongs to Chaminda Vaas, the Sri Lankan pacer, who picked up 8 wickets against Zimbabwe, conceding only 19 runs in 8 overs.
Also Read: List Of All Records Broken By Virat Kohli After His 50th ODI Century
Mohammed Shami has now surpassed Zaheer Khan, who claimed 21 wickets in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, marking the highest by an Indian bowler in a single edition of the tournament. Shami’s current tally in the ongoing competition is 23 wickets. This achievement makes him the seventh bowler in history to secure more than 50 wickets in World Cup tournaments.
Top 5 bowlers with most 5-wicket hauls in ICC Cricket World Cup
1. Mohammed Shami (India) – 4
2. Mitchell Starc (Australia) – 3
3. Gary Gilmour (Australia) – 2
4. Vasbert Drakes (West Indies) – 2
5. Ashantha de Mel (Sri Lanka) – 2