Mohammed Shami continues to be an inspiration in world cricket. After a challenging period battling injuries and inconsistent international outings, the 34-year-old pacer made a remarkable comeback, claiming a five-wicket haul (5/53) in India’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener against Bangladesh in Dubai. His fiery spell dismantled Bangladesh’s top order, reducing them to 35/5 before they recovered to 228 runs.
Shami: India’s ICC Tournament Specialist
Shami’s performance further cements his reputation as India’s go-to bowler in ICC events. With his latest exploits, he surpassed Zaheer Khan to become India’s highest wicket-taker in ODI ICC tournaments with 60 wickets. Among bowlers with at least 10 innings across ODI World Cups and Champions Trophies, Shami boasts the best bowling average (13.28) and best strike rate (15.5), according to Wisden.
He now has five five-wicket hauls in ICC ODI tournaments—two more than legends like Glenn McGrath and Mitchell Starc. Impressively, four of these fifers have come in World Cups, highlighting his penchant for delivering in crucial matches.
Fastest Indian to 200 ODI Wickets
Shami reached another significant milestone, becoming the fastest Indian to 200 ODI wickets in terms of balls bowled (5,126 deliveries), ranking third-fastest overall. He achieved this feat in his 104th ODI since debuting in January 2013. Despite sporadic appearances due to injuries, he has collected the fifth-most wickets by an Indian pacer and sits eighth among Indian bowlers overall.
Notably, his strike rate of 25.4 is the best among all bowlers with 200+ ODI wickets, surpassing legends like Wasim Akram, Muttiah Muralitharan, and Brett Lee.
Shami’s Resilience Amid Injuries
Shami’s career is a testament to resilience. He played through injuries in the 2015 World Cup (17 wickets in seven matches) and bounced back in 2019 with 14 wickets in just four games. His stellar 2023 World Cup performance saw him finish as the top wicket-taker with 24 wickets at a jaw-dropping average of 10.70.
However, a post-tournament ankle injury sidelined him for months. Despite doubts and fitness concerns, Shami returned in Dubai, once again delivering when it mattered most.
Master of All Phases
Shami’s versatility makes him effective in every bowling phase:
- First-Change Specialist:
In 22 innings as a first-change bowler, he averages 18.45 with 55 wickets at a strike rate of 20.1. He thrived in this role during the 2019 and 2023 World Cups, supporting Bumrah and Siraj. - With the New Ball:
His 25.63 average with the new ball rivals elite pacers like Dale Steyn and Waqar Younis. With 144 wickets in 78 innings as a new-ball bowler, Shami consistently delivers early breakthroughs. - Death Overs Specialist:
Shami has taken the most ODI wickets (41-50 overs) since his debut, with a strike rate of 14.28 in the death overs, outperforming the likes of Bumrah and Starc despite a higher economy rate (7.67).
Consistent Across Conditions
Shami’s effectiveness isn’t restricted by conditions:
- Home Average: 24.89
- Away Average: 24.57
- Neutral Venues: 19.15
His adaptability allows him to thrive in various pitch and weather conditions, making him indispensable to India’s bowling attack.
Quick Stats:
- 60 wickets: Most by an Indian in ODI ICC events
- 200 ODI wickets: Fastest Indian (5,126 balls)
- Best strike rate (25.4) among 200+ wicket-takers in ODIs
- 5 five-wicket hauls in ICC ODIs: Most by any bowler
- 24 wickets in 2023 WC: Tournament’s top wicket-taker
As India gears up for their next ICC Champions Trophy clash against Pakistan, Shami’s form will be crucial. With his ability to strike early, contain in the middle, and finish strong, the “Comeback King” is ready to lead India’s bowling charge once again.