Mohammed Shami celebrates a crucial wicket during the 2023 World Cup clash between India and Sri Lanka. In a dazzling display of pace bowling, Shami, aided by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, dismantled the Sri Lankan lower-order, finishing with figures of 5-18 from his five overs. He took down Charith Asalanka and Dushan Hemantha in quick succession before claiming the prized scalps of Dushmantha Chameera and Angelo Mathews, restricting Sri Lanka to a paltry 55 runs.
Shami’s exceptional performance not only earned him the ‘Player of the Match’ accolade but also catapulted him to new heights in the record books. Having made his ODI debut in 2013, Shami has steadily cemented his place in World Cup history, marking his third World Cup appearance in the ongoing tournament. His 14th appearance on the global stage saw him surpass the likes of Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath to become India’s highest wicket-taker in World Cup history, achieving this feat in just 14 matches at an astounding average of 12.91.
Additionally, Shami secured his second five-wicket haul in World Cup matches, adding to his five-wicket haul against England in 2019. With his exceptional form, Shami now has the opportunity to further solidify his record and potentially become the first Indian bowler to claim 50 World Cup wickets. All eyes are now on his performance in the upcoming clash against South Africa as he continues to etch his name in cricketing history.