Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami, born on September 3, 1990, is a prominent figure in Indian international cricket, showcasing his prowess as a right-arm fast or fast-medium bowler across all formats. His cricketing journey involves representing Bengal in domestic matches and contributing his skills to four different teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Shami's bowling technique involves delivering the ball off the seam and utilizing swing, including the art of reverse swing, to make the ball dance in both directions. Particularly recognized for his effectiveness in the "death overs" of limited-overs matches, Shami has earned a reputation for being, at times, practically "unplayable" across all formats.

Early Life and Beginning of Career

His roots trace back to Sahaspur in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, where he spent his formative years as one of five siblings. Tauseef Ali, Shami's father and a former quick bowler in his youth recognized his son's potential. At the age of 15, Shami was introduced to Badruddin Siddique, a cricket coach in Moradabad, located 22 kilometers from his village, marking the beginning of his cricketing journey.Shami dedicated himself to honing his skills during his Moradabad days. Post matches, he'd specifically ask for used balls, aiming to master the art of reverse swinging older ones—an expertise that later proved pivotal in his career success. Despite not making the cut for the Uttar Pradesh under-19 side, Badruddin steered him towards Kolkata in 2005 to boost his chances.

Playing for the Dalhousie Athletic Club led him to Debabrata Das, an ex-assistant secretary of the Cricket Association of Bengal, who, captivated by Shami's bowling, invited him to join Town Club. Facing accommodation challenges in Kolkata, Shami found a home with Das. His stellar performances for Town Club caught the eye of Bengal selector Sambaran Banerjee, earning him a spot in the Bengal under-22 team. To enhance his prospects, Shami joined the prestigious Mohun Bagan Cricket Club, showcasing his skills in the Eden Gardens nets against Sourav Ganguly. Ganguly's recommendation to the state selectors paved the way for Shami's inclusion in the Bengal squad for the 2010-11 Ranji Trophy.

Domestic Career

Commencing his domestic career, Shami marked his senior debut for Bengal with a four-wicket haul in a Twenty20 match in October 2010, followed by a noteworthy first-class debut the next month against Assam at Eden Gardens, where he secured three wickets in a high-scoring encounter.

In February 2012, Shami played a pivotal role in East Zone's historic victory, securing their first Duleep Trophy title. His exceptional bowling performance, yielding eight wickets in the match, earned him accolades for consistently extracting bounce and zip from just shy of a good length. Initially stepping in due to an injury to Abu Nechim, Shami's unexpected opportunity became a turning point in his career. Once labeled as "little-known" before the match, by April, he had swiftly transformed into a player to watch in the upcoming Indian Premier League season.

He earned a spot on the India A tour to the West Indies, showcasing his bowling prowess on traditionally unhelpful pitches for fast bowlers. Shami emerged as the unexpected star of the tour, leaving a lasting impression on coach Lalchand Rajput with his remarkable strength, unwavering consistency in bowling, and surprising batting skills. In the initial unofficial Test match, batting in the tenth position, he contributed 27 crucial runs in a partnership of 73 with Cheteshwar Pujara, ultimately securing a victory for India A.

Later that year, he was one of the only two fast bowlers retained for the India A tour of New Zealand, although his participation was limited to just two out of six matches. In the 2012-13 Ranji Trophy, Shami delivered a remarkable performance, claiming 11 wickets in a match against Madhya Pradesh in November, including a sensational seven-wicket haul for 79 runs in the first innings, featuring a memorable hat-trick. The following month, on a green wicket at Eden Gardens, he achieved his second ten-wicket match in only his 15th first-class game, taking 4/36 and 6/71 against Hyderabad.

Throughout the season, spanning five Ranji Trophy matches, Shami accumulated 28 wickets at an impressive bowling average of 21.25 runs per wicket. Before his Test match debut in 2013, he played a total of 18 first-class matches, securing a remarkable 71 wickets with an average of four wickets per match.

Since stepping into the international arena in 2013, Shami has had sporadic appearances for his state side. In March 2017, after a four-month hiatus from competitive cricket, he participated in a limited-overs match. Later, in 2017, he returned to the Ranji Trophy, marking his first appearance in around five years, as a strategic move to enhance and sustain his fitness. In 2018, he played a solitary first-class match for Bengal, with the BCCI imposing restrictions on his bowling, ensuring he bowled no more than 15 overs in each innings to preserve his fitness for an upcoming Test series. Subsequently, Shami has been absent from Bengal's lineup since the 2018/19 season.

Test Career

2013 to 2018

In November 2013, Shami marked his Test debut against West Indies, delighting his hometown fans at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. In a spectacular performance, he clinched his inaugural Test wicket, dismissing Kieran Powell, and concluded the first innings with an impressive 4/71. The second innings showcased Shami's prowess as he claimed 5/47. His overall match tally of nine wickets for 118 runs set a record for the most wickets by an Indian pacer on debut, eclipsing Munaf Patel's feat in 2006.

Shami continued to shine during India's tours of South Africa and New Zealand, accumulating a total of 16 Test wickets. However, the 2014 England tour posed challenges, yielding only five wickets in three matches. Notably, he forged a remarkable 111-run partnership with Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the Trent Bridge Test, securing his maiden half-century and contributing to India's first-innings total of 457.

In the 2014-15 Australia tour, Shami displayed his mettle by claiming 15 wickets in three Tests. This achievement elevated him to the esteemed rank of the 20th Indian fast bowler to reach 100 Test wickets, accomplishing the milestone in just 29 Tests.

In 2018, Shami showcased his skills during the England tour, featuring in all five Tests and concluding the series with an impressive tally of 16 wickets, including a notable six in the fourth Test.

2019-21 ICC World Test Championship

The 2019-21 ICC World Test Championship witnessed Shami's excellence. In the two-match Test series against West Indies in 2019, he secured nine wickets. Subsequently, he made significant contributions in the home series against South Africa in 2019 and New Zealand in 2020, claiming thirteen and five wickets, respectively. Shami was a crucial part of the historic first international pink ball Test match at Eden Gardens during the 2019-20 Bangladesh tour of India, where he took two wickets.

In this series, Shami climbed to the seventh spot in the ICC Men's Player Rankings by securing seven wickets in the initial Test. His rating of 790 points marked the third-highest ever attained by an Indian pace bowler, trailing only Kapil Dev (877) and Jasprit Bumrah (832). The 2020-21 Australia tour saw Shami's unfortunate break of the arm while facing Pat Cummins in the first Test's second innings, forcing him to retire hurt and withdraw from the remainder of the series.

The Rose Bowl witnessed Shami's presence during the 2019-21 WTC final. He emerged as the joint-tenth highest wicket-taker in the tournament, tallying 40 wickets alongside Jofra Archer. Among Indian pacers, Shami claimed the top spot and ranked second among all Indian bowlers, surpassed only by Ravichandran Ashwin.

In the Test Championship final against New Zealand at The Rose Bowl in Southampton, Shami showcased his prowess by taking four wickets in the first innings. Despite his efforts, New Zealand clinched victory by 8 wickets.

2021-23 ICC World Test Championship

Moving on to the 2021-23 ICC World Test Championship, the India-England series in 2021 witnessed Shami's exceptional batting on August 16, when he achieved his highest Test score of an unbeaten 56* in India's second innings. This partnership with Jasprit Bumrah played a pivotal role in India's historic triumph against England. Shami concluded the 5-match series as the fifth-highest wicket-taker with 11 wickets, delivering his best figures of 4/95 in the first innings of the third match. In the initial innings of the inaugural Test in the 2021-22 India-South Africa Test series, Shami showcased his brilliance by claiming 5 wickets for 44 runs.

This remarkable feat marked him as the fifth Indian pace bowler to reach the milestone of 200 wickets in Test cricket, achieving this distinction with the fewest deliveries (9896). In the realm of cricket excellence, Ravi Shastri, the former head coach of India, bestowed upon him the title of 'The Sultan of Bengal' on Twitter, praising his outstanding performances. Following India's triumphant match, Test captain Virat Kohli paid tribute to Shami, hailing him as one of the top three seamers globally, acknowledging his remarkable feat of claiming 8 wickets in the game. Concluding the series as India's leading wicket-taker with a total of 14 wickets from 3 matches solidified Shami's stellar contribution.

ODI Career

Venturing into the One Day International (ODI) arena, Shami, propelled by his domestic prowess, stepped into the limelight during India's ODI series against Pakistan. Substituting for his fellow Bengali teammate Ashok Dinda, Shami made his debut in the third ODI in Delhi on January 6, 2013. In this low-scoring encounter, he showcased his skills by securing figures of 1/23 from 9 overs, contributing to India's 10-run victory. The 2013 series against Australia marked another turning point, with Shami earning his place and emerging as the fourth-highest wicket-taker, claiming seven wickets, including two three-wicket hauls.

2014

The year 2014 brought more milestones for Shami. During India's tour of New Zealand, he exhibited his ODI prowess by taking 11 wickets at an average of 28.72. In the 2014 Asia Cup against Afghanistan on March 5, 2014, Shami reached the milestone of 50 ODI wickets in just his 29th innings, ending the tournament with 9 wickets at 23.59. Despite a Test series setback against England, India emerged victorious in the ODI series by a margin of 3-1, wherein Shami played a crucial role, securing 8 wickets at an average of 24.16. His adept bowling in the death overs and precision with line, length, and yorkers earned him accolades as the prospective future of Indian bowling.

In October 2014, Shami showcased his bowling prowess against West Indies, grabbing 10 wickets at an impressive average of 17.40. The pinnacle of his performance came in the 2nd ODI of the series, where he delivered his career-best ODI bowling figures, snatching 4 wickets for just 36 runs in 9.3 overs.

Despite making it to the 15-man squad for the 5 ODIs against Sri Lanka in November 2014, a toe injury suffered during the West Indies series forced Shami to make way for Dhawal Kulkarni. His stellar performances in 2014 earned him a spot in the prestigious World ODI XI by the ICC.

2015 Cricket World Cup

The 2015 Cricket World Cup marked another significant chapter for Shami. Included in the 15-man squad, he played a crucial role in India's victories. In the opening match against Pakistan, he claimed 4 wickets for 35 runs, contributing to India's success. The clash with West Indies saw him as the Man of the Match. His consistent performances included a notable 3/41 against Ireland and a 3-wicket haul against Zimbabwe in the league games. Although he faced a setback in the semi-final against Australia, where he went wicketless and conceded 68 runs in 10 overs, Shami concluded the tournament with 17 wickets at an average of 17.29 and an economy rate of 4.81, ranking as the fourth leading wicket-taker.

Post-tournament, Shami disclosed that he battled recurring pain in his left knee throughout the World Cup, eventually leading to surgery in June. Despite this setback, his outstanding performances in 2015 secured his position in the World ODI XI by the ICC.

After a two-year hiatus due to a shoulder injury, Shami made a comeback to the squad for the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy. However, due to limited game time, he did not feature in any of the tournament matches.

2019 New Zealand tour

In the thrilling New Zealand tour of January 2019, Shami notched up his 100th ODI wicket in a spectacular fashion by dismissing Martin Guptill in the first of five games. Surpassing the Indian record set by Irfan Pathan, Shami achieved this milestone in just 56 matches. However, as of January 2022, the world record for the fastest wickets to 100 ODI belongs to Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan, who accomplished the feat in a mere 44 games.

During the series, Shami showcased his prowess by claiming nine wickets in four games with an impressive average of 15.33, earning him the well-deserved title of the series' man of the match. Sportstar reported that this performance revitalized Shami's white ball career, securing his spot in the 2019 Cricket World Cup squad.

2019 Cricket World Cup

Moving on to the Cricket World Cup, Shami was rightfully included in India's squad in April 2019, recognized for his stellar white ball cricket performances. As one of the three fast bowlers in the squad alongside Jasprit Bumrah and white ball specialist Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shami left an indelible mark. On June 22, 2019, in a match against Afghanistan, Shami achieved a remarkable hat-trick, becoming the second Indian bowler after Chetan Sharma to accomplish this feat in a World Cup match.

In the clash against England on June 30, 2019, Shami continued his impressive run, securing his first five-wicket haul in ODIs. He made history as the first Indian bowler to achieve consecutive three four-wicket hauls in the World Cup, boasting figures of 4/40 against Afghanistan, 4/16 against West Indies, and 5/69 against England. Despite his stellar performance in four consecutive matches, the decision to favor Bhuvneshwar Kumar over Shami sparked controversy among cricket pundits.

Shami, however, made the most of his opportunities, featuring in only four matches but claiming a total of 14 wickets. This made him the 12th-highest wicket-taker in the tournament and the second-best Indian bowler, just behind Jasprit Bumrah, who secured 18 wickets in nine matches. Shami's exceptional bowling strike rate of 15.07 and average of 13.78 were the best among all bowlers in the tournament, with at least six overs bowled.

Ending the year on a high note, Shami emerged as the leading wicket-taker in ODIs for 2019, with an impressive tally of 42 wickets from 21 matches.

2020 to 2023

Shami showcased his prowess in the three-match ODI series between India and Australia in 2020, contributing significantly to India's 2-1 triumph. Although he remained wicketless in the initial game, he bounced back impressively, securing 7 wickets in the subsequent two matches, emerging as the series' leading wicket-taker. His adeptness in consistently delivering yorkers and his knack for taking crucial wickets during powerplays and death overs garnered widespread acclaim.

Following this success, Shami earned a spot in the squad for India's tour of Australia in December 2020, making an impact with four wickets in the two ODIs he played.

Fast forward to the 2023 Asia Cup, commencing on August 31, Shami found himself included in India's 15-man squad. Stepping in for Jasprit Bumrah against Nepal, he continued to be a valuable asset. Notably, in the first ODI against Australia in September 2023, leading up to the 2023 Cricket World Cup, Shami delivered a standout performance, claiming 5/51 - a personal best at that point.

2023 Cricket World Cup

As the 2023 Cricket World Cup unfolded in India, Shami initially sat out the first four matches but made a resounding entrance against New Zealand in Dharamshala on October 22. His stellar bowling, marked by figures of 5/54, earned him the well-deserved Player of the Match title. He continued to shine with a remarkable 4/22 against England in Lucknow.

Mohammed Shami

The pinnacle of Shami's ODI achievements came when he secured a phenomenal 5/18 against Sri Lanka in Mumbai, earning him another Player of the Match accolade. This outstanding performance not only shattered records for the most four-wicket hauls (7) and five-wicket hauls (3) in World Cups but also marked his 45th wicket in Cricket World Cup matches, surpassing the previous Indian record of 44 held by Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath.

T20I Career

Shami stepped onto the Twenty20 International (T20I) stage with a bang on March 21, 2014, during the opening clash of the 2014 T20 World Cup against Pakistan. In that memorable debut, he claimed the wicket of Umar Akmal, boasting figures of 1/31 from his four overs on the pitch. While he continued to grace the next two matches, fate had a different plan, sidelining him for the remainder of the tournament.

His return to action came in the 2014 England tour after the Test series in July. Shami showcased his prowess in the lone match of the series, clinching three wickets and conceding 38 runs. A setback followed as he missed out on the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 due to a combination of a shoulder injury recovery, lack of form, and limited game time.

T20 World Cup

Despite not shining as brightly in T20Is compared to other formats, Shami earned a spot in the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, credited to his stellar performances in three consecutive Indian Premier League seasons. As one of the trio of fast bowlers in the primary squad alongside Jasprit Bumrah and white-ball specialist Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shami stood out as the sole representative from Bengal.

Shami faced a slow start in the initial two matches of the tournament, going wicketless. However, he rebounded spectacularly, delivering a career-best performance with figures of 3/32 against Afghanistan and a repeat feat with 3/15 against Scotland.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Mohammad Shami stands tall as one of India's most talented and hardworking fast bowlers. His journey has been marked by personal challenges, but his unwavering commitment has earned him a prominent place in the cricketing world. Renowned for his lethal yorkers and the ability to swing the ball with finesse, Shami has become a pivotal player across all formats. Beyond the cricket field, his commitment to fitness, philanthropy, and his passion for football add layers to his dynamic persona.


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