In a momentous feat, Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami has etched his name in the annals of ODI World Cup history. Shami, famous for his skill with the ball, achieved the rare milestone of recording two five-wicket hauls in World Cup competitions for India. His first success was against England during the 2019 World Cup, and he recreated this extraordinary effort in the World Cup 2023 matchup against New Zealand in Dharamsala last Sunday.
In the 2019 World Cup, just like in the current 2023 tournament, Mohammed Shami originally found himself warming the bench. India selected Shardul Thakur to improve their batting lineup. However, fate interfered as Hardik Pandya suffered an injury, causing India to change their playing combination.
Suryakumar Yadav and Mohammed Shami were called in, with Shardul Thakur being dropped. Shami grasped his moment in the recent game and made an immediate impression. His performance was nothing short of extraordinary.
During the contest, Shami displayed his skill by capturing a wicket in the powerplay, another in the middle overs, and a stunning three-wicket haul in the death overs. His five-wicket haul was particularly noteworthy since it included the dismissals of the well-established centurion, Daryl Mitchell, and the half-centurion, Rachin Ravindra, who were the star players for New Zealand on that day.
Shami’s performance in ODI World Cups has been outstanding, yet he often doesn’t receive the recognition he deserves. Among bowlers who’ve taken a minimum of 15 wickets in the ODI World Cup, Shami boasts the best strike rate at 17.6, and his average of 15.02 is the third-best under these criteria. Shami has secured 36 wickets in just 12 innings in the World Cup.
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Here is how fans reacted to Mohammed Shami’s 5-fer:
Mohammad Shami should be selected in playing eleven as a permanent player. He is far better than Shardul Thakur. Shami also has the potential to bat as well.