Top 5 Bowling Spells by Mohammed Shami in the ODI World Cups
Mohammed Shami has been a key player for India in multiple ODI World Cups, showcasing exceptional skill and consistency. In the 2015 Cricket World Cup, Shami was instrumental in India’s success during the league stages. He played a crucial role in India’s victory over Pakistan in their opening match by taking four wickets. Shami continued his impressive form throughout the tournament, earning the Man of the Match award against West Indies and consistently taking wickets in subsequent matches. He finished the tournament with 17 wickets, making him the fourth leading wicket-taker. Despite playing through a knee injury, his performance earned him a spot in the ICC World ODI XI for 2015.
In the 2019 Cricket World Cup, Shami further cemented his reputation as a premier fast bowler. He achieved a rare hat-trick against Afghanistan, becoming only the second Indian to do so in World Cup history. Shami’s consistency was evident as he took consecutive four-wicket hauls and a five-wicket haul against England. Although he played only four matches, his impact was significant, with 14 wickets and the best bowling strike rate and average in the tournament. Shami’s contributions continued in the 2023 World Cup, where he became the leading wicket-taker with 24 wickets, breaking several records, including the most wickets by an Indian in a single edition and the first Indian to claim a seven-wicket haul in World Cup history.
Mohammed Shami’s Overall ODI World Cup Stats:
| Matches | Inns | Overs | Maidns | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Avg | Eco | SR | 4w | 5w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 18 | 145.0 | 13 | 744 | 55 | 7/57 | 13.52 | 5.13 | 15.8 | 4 | 4 |
Let’s look at Shami’s top 5 bowling spells in ODI World Cups
1. India vs Pakistan in 2015
In the 2015 Cricket World Cup match between India and Pakistan on February 15, Mohammed Shami delivered an outstanding bowling performance, contributing significantly to India’s 76-run victory. Shami’s disciplined bowling saw him take four crucial wickets for just 35 runs in his 9-over spell, with an economy rate of 3.88.
Mohammed Shami’s wickets:
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | Mode of Dismissal | Fall of Wicket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Younis Khan | 6 | 10 | c Dhoni | 1-11, 3.2 overs |
| Misbah-ul-Haq | 76 | 84 | c Rahane | 9-220, 45.4 overs |
| Shahid Afridi | 22 | 22 | c Kohli | 6-149, 34.1 overs |
| Wahab Riaz | 4 | 2 | c Dhoni | 7-154, 34.4 overs |
Shami’s impactful bowling curtailed Pakistan’s run chase and ensured regular breakthroughs, thereby preventing any significant partnerships from developing. His ability to maintain pressure and pick up wickets at crucial junctures was instrumental in restricting Pakistan to 224 runs, ensuring India began their World Cup campaign with a victory.
2. India vs Afghanistan in 2019
In the 2019 Cricket World Cup match between India and Afghanistan on June 22, Mohammed Shami delivered a match-winning performance with the ball, ensuring a narrow 11-run victory for India. Shami’s precise and effective bowling resulted in him taking four key wickets for 40 runs in his 9.5-over spell, with an economy rate of 4.06.
Mohammed Shami’s wickets:
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | Mode of Dismissal | Fall of Wicket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hazratullah Zazai | 10 | 24 | Bowled | 1-20, 6.3 overs |
| Mohammad Nabi | 52 | 55 | c Pandya | 8-213, 49.3 overs |
| Aftab Alam | 0 | 1 | Bowled | 9-213, 49.4 overs |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | 0 | 1 | Bowled | 10-213, 49.5 overs |
His first wicket was Hazratullah Zazai, who was bowled out for 10 runs. Shami’s disciplined line and length continued to trouble the Afghan batsmen, and he later dismissed the well-set Mohammad Nabi, who had scored 52 runs, caught by Hardik Pandya. In a dramatic finish to the match, Shami bowled Aftab Alam for a duck, and then immediately followed up by bowling Mujeeb Ur Rahman for zero, completing a hat-trick and sealing the win for India.
Shami’s performance was crucial in breaking the momentum of Afghanistan’s chase and maintaining pressure on the batting side. His ability to strike at vital moments, especially in the final over, showcased his skill and composure under pressure. Shami’s hat-trick, the second by an Indian in World Cup history, was instrumental in India defending a modest total of 224 and securing a hard-fought victory.
3. India vs New Zealand in 2023 (Group Stage)
In the 21st match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, held at Dharamsala on October 22, 2023, India emerged victorious against New Zealand by four wickets with 12 balls remaining. The standout performer for India was Mohammed Shami, who was named Player of the Match for his exceptional bowling figures of 5 for 54.
Mohammed Shami’s wickets:
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | Mode of Dismissal | Fall of Wicket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will Young | 17 | 27 | Bowled | 2-19, 8.1 overs |
| Rachin Ravindra | 75 | 87 | c Shubman Gill | 3-178, 33.3 overs |
| Daryl Mitchell | 130 | 127 | c Kohli | 9-273, 49.5 overs |
| Mitchell Santner | 1 | 2 | Bowled | 7-260, 47.4 overs |
| Matt Henry | 0 | 1 | Bowled | 8-260, 47.5 overs |
Shami’s ability to break partnerships and take wickets at regular intervals was instrumental in restricting New Zealand to a chaseable total. India’s response saw them chasing down the target of 274 in 48 overs with significant contributions from Virat Kohli, who scored 95 runs, and valuable support from Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Ravindra Jadeja.
4. India vs England in 2023
In the 2023 World Cup match between India and England held on October 29 in Lucknow, Mohammed Shami delivered an outstanding bowling performance. He claimed 4 wickets for just 22 runs in 7 overs, maintaining an impressive economy rate of 3.14. His economical and effective bowling played a crucial role in India’s victory by 100 runs, significantly disrupting England’s batting lineup.
Mohammed Shami’s wickets:
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | Mode of Dismissal | Fall of Wicket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonny Bairstow | 14 | 23 | Bowled | 1-39, 9.1 overs |
| Ben Stokes | 0 | 10 | Bowled | 3-33, 7.6 overs |
| Moeen Ali | 15 | 31 | c Rahul | 6-81, 23.1 overs |
| Adil Rashid | 13 | 20 | Bowled | 9-122, 33.6 overs |
Shami’s first wicket came early in the innings when he bowled Jonny Bairstow for 14 runs off 23 balls. This initial breakthrough set the tone for his spell. He continued to apply pressure and struck again by dismissing Ben Stokes for a duck, adding more strain to England’s batting efforts. Moeen Ali was Shami’s next victim. Shami’s precision and ability to target key batsmen were evident throughout his spell. His final wicket was Adil Rashid.
Shami’s exceptional bowling restricted England to a total of 129 runs and ensured a comfortable win for India. His performance was instrumental in dismantling the opposition’s strong batting order for a low total.
5. India vs New Zealand 2023, Semi-Final 1 – (9.5-0-57-7)
In the 1st Semi-Final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, held at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on November 15, 2023, Mohammed Shami delivered an outstanding bowling performance that led India to a 70-run victory over New Zealand. Shami was instrumental in restricting New Zealand to 327 in their chase of 398, taking seven wickets for 57 runs in his 9.5 overs. This stellar performance earned him the Player of the Match award.
Mohammed Shami’s wickets:
| Batsmen | Runs | Balls | Mode of Dismissal | Fall of Wicket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devon Conway | 13 | 15 | c KL Rahul | 1-30, 5.1 |
| Rachin Ravindra | 13 | 22 | c KL Rahul | 2-39, 7.4 |
| Kane Williamson | 69 | 73 | c Surya | 3-220, 32.2 |
| Tom Latham | 0 | 2 | LBW | 4-220, 32.4 |
| Daryl Mitchell | 134 | 119 | c Jadeja | 7-306, 45.2 |
| Tim Southee | 9 | 10 | c KL Rahul | 9-321, 48.2 |
| Lockie Ferguson | 6 | 3 | c KL Rahul | 10-327, 48.5 |
The crucial wicket as Williamson was looking settled and could have posed a significant threat to India’s defense of their total. Shami continued his impressive spell by taking the wicket of Daryl Mitchell, who was in sublime form, scoring 134 runs off 119 balls.
Mitchell was caught by Ravindra Jadeja, a crucial dismissal as Mitchell was leading the chase effectively. Shami then trapped Tom Latham lbw for a duck, further denting New Zealand’s hopes.
Mohammed Shami’s performance was a blend of skill and strategy, striking at crucial moments to dismantle the New Zealand batting lineup. His wickets included both top-order and lower-order batsmen, showcasing his ability to take wickets across different phases of the innings. Shami’s seven-wicket haul was key to India’s victory and it was also the best performance of an Indian bowler in the World Cup.
