In the latest ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 clash against New Zealand, veteran Indian pacer Mohammed Shami showcased his prowess once more with the ball. In the group stage match in Dharamsala, Shami claimed a five-wicket haul, and in the semi-final at Wankhede stadium, he outdid himself, taking an impressive 7/57.
This achievement not only marked Shami as the first bowler in a knockout match to secure a 7-wicket haul in ODI World Cup history but also elevated him to the top of the World Cup 2023 leading wicket-taker list with 23 wickets in just 6 matches.
Shami’s exceptional form in this tournament includes four five-wicket hauls, surpassing Mitchell Starc’s previous record of three in ODI World Cups. Despite a pivotal moment when he dropped New Zealand captain Kane Williamson in the 29th over, Shami redeemed himself four overs later by dismissing Williamson and Tom Latham consecutively.
Reflecting on his performance, Shami expressed remorse for the dropped catch, stating, “I dropped Williamson’s catch, I shouldn’t have. I felt terrible.” Emphasizing his strategy, Shami mentioned, “We talk a lot of variations, but I still believe in pitching it up and getting wickets with the new ball. The focus was to try and take pace off, see if they’re hitting it in the air.”
With this remarkable feat, Shami not only secured India’s spot in the ODI World Cup final, their first since 2011, but also carved his name in history as the first Indian men’s bowler to achieve a 7-wicket haul in an ODI match, breaking Stuart Binny’s previous record of 6/4.
The anticipation now builds for the final on Sunday, following the second semi-final between Australia and South Africa in Kolkata on Thursday.
