Mohammed Shami is an Indian fast bowler known for his seam and swing bowling, who was India's top wicket-taker during the 2023 World Cup run to the final.
Mohammed Shami Ahmed was born on 3 September 1990 in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, India, and began his cricketing journey playing tennis-ball cricket in his hometown before training under coach Badruddin in Moradabad, eventually earning a move to Kolkata to further his development. Shami made his ODI debut against Pakistan in 2013, and developed into one of India's most incisive fast bowlers, generating significant pace and movement that quickly caught the attention of national selectors, making his Test debut later that year against the West Indies. Shami played a crucial role in India's 2015 Cricket World Cup campaign, finishing as one of the tournament's leading wicket-takers, and delivered a similarly impressive performance at the 2023 World Cup on home soil. Shami has continued to represent India and Bengal in domestic competition, playing for numerous Indian Premier League franchises including the Kolkata Knight Riders, Gujarat Titans, and Lucknow Super Giants, remaining one of the country's most respected and experienced fast bowlers.
Leading wicket-taker for India at the 2023 Cricket World Cup
He took 24 wickets in the 2023 ODI World Cup — the most by any bowler in a single World Cup tournament ever.
Did You Know?How They Played
Shami is a right-arm fast bowler known for his ability to generate reverse swing and his lethal yorkers in limited-overs cricket. He possesses excellent seam position and can extract movement both ways off the pitch, making him particularly effective in Test cricket. His accuracy and ability to bowl long spells have made him a reliable workhorse in India's pace attack.
Lasting Impact
Shami has been instrumental in establishing India's pace bowling dominance across all formats in the modern era. He played a key role in India's historic Test series victories in Australia and other overseas conditions.
Career Honours
- none major individual awards
| Club | Period | Matches | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Punjab Kings | 2014–2021 | 64 | 74 |
| Bengal | 2010–2023 | 80 | 311 |
| Gujarat Titans | 2022–2024 | — | — |