Mohammed Shami’s incredible World Cup run took a huge step forward in the Mumbai semi-final against New Zealand, when the bowler recorded the highest bowling stats by an Indian player in ODIs.
With numbers of 7/57, Shami single-handedly stopped New Zealand’s resistance, defending a score of 398 to qualify for the final. With an amazing bowling session, the champion bowler dismissed the top five batsmen in the New Zealand batting order.
at the 2014 match at Mirpur against Bangladesh, he surpassed Stuart Binny’s previous high score of 6/14. In addition, with 23 wickets in just six games, Mohammed Shami surpassed Australian spinner Adam Zampa to take the top spot on the tournament’s wicket-taking stats.
With four five- and four-wicket hauls apiece, Shami has already established himself as India’s top wicket-taker in ODI World Cups, amassing 54 scalps in 17 games at an astounding average of 12.90.
Even though Rohit Sharma and company scored a record amount in a World Cup knockout, a resolute Kiwi squad put them to the test. But after 1983, 2003, and 2011, Shami struck often to guarantee that the Indians advanced to their fourth ODI World Cup final.
Mohammed Shami has surpassed Zaheer Khan’s previous record of 21 wickets taken by an Indian in an ODI World Cup, grabbing 23 scalps thus far in the present competition.
“I was waiting for my turn” – Mohammed Shami
Following India’s 70-run victory against New Zealand in the 2023 World Cup semi-final, Mohammad Shami was named Player of the Match. He talked about waiting for his turn during the presentation, having warmed the benches for the first four games.
In an ODI World Cup quarterfinal match, he became the first bowler to take seven wickets and finished with the fifth-best World Cup stats.
“I was waiting for my turn. I wasn’t playing much white ball cricket. I had in mind, we talk about a lot of things like yorkers and slower balls. I tried to take wickets with the new ball. I try to take as many as I can with the new ball.”
Mohammed Shami
Given the infrequency of such opportunities and the stumbles in the closing moments of the last two ODI World Cups, the bowler was optimistic about the final.
“I feel amazing. This is a huge platform. We lost in the semis in the 2015 and the 2019 WC. Looking to cash in with the chance I have been given. We don’t know when all of us will get a chance like this again.”
Mohammed Shami
With one game remaining, Mohammed Shami is only four wickets short of Mitchell Starc’s 27 in the 2019 version for the most scalps in a single ODI World Cup edition.
The final of the tournament on Sunday 19th November at Ahmedabad will be a match between team India and whoever wins the second semi-final between Australia and South Africa.