In a thrilling semifinal clash at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday, Mohammed Shami etched his name in history by securing the best-ever wicket haul by an Indian bowler in the 50-over Cricket World Cup. Shami’s remarkable seven-wicket performance, coupled with Virat Kohli’s record 50th ODI century, propelled India to a commanding 70-run victory over New Zealand.
Shami’s exceptional figures of 7/57 in 9.5 overs, at an economy rate of 5.79, surpassed Ashish Nehra’s 6/23 against England in the 2003 World Cup, establishing a new record for the best-ever performance by an Indian in the World Cup. Furthermore, Shami’s figures rank as the fifth-best in World Cup history, with Glenn McGrath’s 7/15 against Namibia in 2003 holding the top spot.
The pace veteran also achieved the milestone of 50 World Cup wickets, becoming the seventh bowler to do so. Impressively, Shami achieved this feat in just 17 innings, outpacing Mitchell Starc’s record of 19 innings. With a total of 54 wickets in 17 matches at an average of 12.90, Shami stands as the sixth-highest wicket-taker in World Cup history.
In the ongoing WC 2023, Shami has taken 23 wickets in six matches, leading the wicket charts with an average of 9.13. His outstanding performance includes three five-wicket hauls and a four-wicket haul in the tournament.
Celebrating India’s victory, Shami’s childhood coach Mohamed Badrudeen expressed joy, stating, “It is a moment of joy for all of us that India has reached the World Cup final.” Shami played a pivotal role in restricting New Zealand to 327 in 48.5 overs, earning him the ‘Player of the Match’ title for his exceptional spell.