NEW DELHI: Star Indian pacer Mohammed Shami on Thursday achieved a remarkable feat by becoming India's fastest and overall second-quickest bowler to secure 200 ODI wickets during Thursday's Champions Trophy clash with Bangladesh in Dubai, marking his ICC tournament comeback with a brilliant five-wicket haul.
The accomplished pacer reached this milestone in his 104th match, surpassing Ajit Agarkar's previous Indian record of 133 matches. His final figures of 5/53 further cemented his status as a premier bowler in ICC tournaments.
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Shami now leads India's wicket-taking charts in major 50-over ICC competitions, with 60 wickets across ODI World Cup and Champions Trophy matches, ahead of Zaheer Khan (59), Javagal Srinath (47) and Ravindra Jadeja (43).
His 200th ODI victim was Jaker Ali, who scored 68 and shared a substantial 154-run partnership for the sixth wicket with centurion Towhid Hridoy (100).
The 34-year-old speedster stands second only to Australian Mitchell Starc, who achieved the 200-wicket milestone in 102 matches. Shami maintains an impressive average below 25 in ODIs, with six five-wicket hauls and ten four-wicket hauls, becoming the eighth Indian to reach 200 ODI wickets.
Following a 14-month absence due to ankle surgery, Shami has made an impressive return despite initial fears about his career prospects. His determination to represent India again proved crucial in his recovery journey.
The ankle injury occurred during the 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia, interrupting his outstanding form as the tournament's leading wicket-taker. Complications with his left knee extended his absence from international cricket beyond a year.
