New Delhi: In a stellar display of bowling prowess, Indian pace bowler Mohammed Shami made history on Thursday during the ICC Champions Trophy match against Bangladesh in Dubai. Shami became the fastest bowler in the world to reach 200 ODI wickets in terms of the number of balls bowled, achieving this milestone in just 5,126 deliveries.
Shami’s remarkable feat came as he dismissed Jaker Ali, who scored 68, to secure his 200th wicket. This achievement not only underscores Shami’s exceptional skill but also places him ahead of Australian speedster Mitchell Starc, who previously held the record with 5,240 balls. Other legendary bowlers like Saqlain Mushtaq, Brett Lee, Trent Boult, and Waqar Younis also trail behind Shami in this record.
Shami’s journey to this milestone was marked by a significant comeback after being sidelined for 14 months due to an ankle injury that required surgery. His recovery was further complicated by swelling in his left knee, but his determination to play for India again drove him through the challenging period. Shami’s injury occurred during the 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia, where he had been in top form, leading the wicket-taker’s chart in the tournament.
In the match against Bangladesh, Shami returned impressive figures of 5/53, helping India secure a six-wicket victory. His performance was crucial, especially given that he is leading the Indian pace attack in the absence of the injured Jasprit Bumrah.
Shami is now the eighth Indian bowler to achieve 200 ODI wickets and has also become the fastest Indian to reach this mark, surpassing Ajit Agarkar’s record of 133 matches. Shami achieved this in just 104 matches, making him joint-second fastest with Pakistan’s Saqlain Mushtaq.
Additionally, Shami has solidified his position as India’s leading wicket-taker in ICC limited-overs competitions, with 60 wickets in the ODI World Cup and Champions Trophy, surpassing Zaheer Khan’s tally of 59 wickets.
