UP, Amroha born Indian national Pacer Mohammed Shami overtook Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath last night to become the most successful bowler for India in the history of ICC Cricket World cup. In only his 14th World cup match, Shami became the all time leading wicket-taker for India, thanks to his second 5-wicket haul of the tournament.
His fiery spell was complimented by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj as the trio inflicted yet another collapse in the Sri-Lankan batting order. Back in September, India bowled the Lankans out for just 50 in the 2023 Asia Cup final at Colombo.
And last night at Mumbai, Sri-Lanka while trying to chase down 358 succumbed in front of a lethal Indian bowling attack led by Mohammad Shami.
It was Bumrah who gave India the first break through in the very first ball of the 2nd innings. Then Mohammad Siraj took 3 wickets, bringing back the fond memories from the Asia Cup final. Sri-Lanka were 3/4, hoping to build a partnership in the middle but that’s when Mohammed Shami entered the scene.
Mohammad Shami Fifer Moment 🔥
Great capture @HitmanCricketpic.twitter.com/e11l4oTH19— Abhishek Ojha (@vicharabhio) November 2, 2023
After 2 dot balls, Shami invited Charith Asalanka to play a square cut, but the latter ended up handing Ravindra Jadeja an easy catch towards the point region. In the following delivery, Number 7 Dushan Hemantha edged a waving length ball to the safe gloves of Kl Rahul.
Shami was on a hat-trick but Dushmantha Chameera prevented him from completing it. But in his 2nd over, the UP man bowled a leg-sided delivery that nudged Chameera’s gloves which was confirmed by the DRS taken by Rohit Sharma on the decision which was initally called as not out.
Sri-Lanka were 22/7 and just 7 runs later, Shami removed Angelo Matthews with an unplayable in swinging delivery that cleaned up the leg stump. Then Kasun Rajitha and Maheesh Theekshana played some good cover drives and on drives to take Lanka from 29 to 49 before Rajitha was caught in the slip by Shubman Gill.
😎🇮🇳 Name a better fast bowling trio than this, we'll wait.
💥⚡ This is Shami's 3️⃣rd Cricket World Cup fifer.
📷 Getty • #JaspritBumrah #MohammedSiraj #MohammedShami #INDvSL #INDvsSL #CricketComesHome #CWC23 #TeamIndia #BharatArmy #COTI🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/V6oqb6LVi6
— The Bharat Army (@thebharatarmy) November 2, 2023
With that Mohammad Shami completed another 5-wicket haul in CWC 2023 which was his 3rd overall in World cup history. His first Fifer came in his debut World cup edition in 2015. 8 years later, during India Vs New Zealand at Dharamshala, Shami completed his 2nd fifer and last night he took his 3rd.
Kapil Dev, Venkatesh Prasad, Robin Singh and Ashish Nehra all have fifers to their name in World cups but Shami has surpassed them all. The 33-year-old equalled Mitchell Starc’s tally of Three Fifers and Shami took 10 matches less than the Australian.
He has also overtaken Zaheer Khan (44 in 23 inn) and Javagal Srinath (44 in 34 inn) as the highest Indian wicket takers with 45 wickets in just 14 innings. With Shami hitting prime form, every Indian will be hoping that he retains this form and bring a smile to every Indian’s face.