At the vibrant Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, the Indian fast bowler, Mohammed Shami, achieved an unforgettable feat during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Shami once again displayed his incredible talent by taking five crucial wickets in a single match. This remarkable performance has now placed him at the top of the list as the highest wicket-taker for India in the history of the World Cup.
Mohammed Shami’s incredible climb saw him overtake two great Indian speed bowlers in just 14 matches, cementing his continuous contributions to Team India. Shami’s path in the World Cup has been outstanding, and he’s presently competing in the continuing World Cup in 2023. His debut in the event occurred in 2015, hosted by Australia and New Zealand, where he managed to record an incredible 17 wickets in just seven games, including a memorable 4-wicket haul.
In the succeeding 2019 World Cup hosted in England, Shami’s effect was seen even though he played in only four matches. Despite few appearances, he managed to secure 14 wickets, with one memorable highlight being his hat-trick against Afghanistan in Southampton. Additionally, Shami proved his prowess with a 5-wicket haul and two 4-wicket hauls in this huge tournament. It’s worth noting that Team India’s adventure ended in the semifinals, falling short against New Zealand.
Shami initially missed out on being a part of India’s starting lineup for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, despite having 31 wickets to his name from 11 games. However, a twist of fate came when Hardik Pandya suffered an injury, prompting the team management to offer Shami an opportunity to showcase his skills. Shami has certainly proven his worth, maintaining a consistent performance and securing 14 wickets in the tournament thus far. Impressively, he managed to achieve two 5-wicket hauls during the competition, one against New Zealand in Dharamshala and another against Sri Lanka in Mumbai. In a crucial match against England in Lucknow, Shami was instrumental in taking 4 wickets to further contribute to the team’s success.
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Legendary Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath owns the astounding record for the highest number of wickets taken in the history of World Cups, having secured an impressive total of 71 wickets throughout 39 matches. McGrath’s outstanding World Cup career extended four tournaments, from 1996 to 2007. Following closely behind, Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan grabbed the second spot in this list, with a magnificent 68 wickets achieved in 40 games. Murali’s World Cup career lasted an even more prolonged duration, as he participated in five World Cups from 1996 to 2011. Australia’s pace phenom, Mitchell Starc, has etched his name into the record books as well, ranking third on this list with a score of 56 wickets taken in 24 matches thus far.
