On September 3, 1990, Team India pacer Mohammed Shami was born to Tauseef Ali and Anjum Ara in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh. He was one of the five children of his parents. At the age of 15, he was taken to Badruddin
Siddique, a cricket coach based in Moradabad. Under Badruddin, he learnt the skill of reverse swing with the older ball. However, his diligence couldn’t get him a spot in Uttar Pradesh U-19 side and he was sent to Kolkata to elevate his chances of breaking into a state side’s selection. After playing for a few clubs based in Bengal, he got the chance to bowl former India captain Sourav Ganguly during a net session at the iconic Eden Gardens. Impressed by the speedster’s bowling, Ganguly recommended his name to the state selectors.
In October 2010, Shami made his debut in domestic cricket with his appearance for Bengal against Assam in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy game played in Cuttack. Playing his maiden game, he looked impressive and chipped 4/24 figures in Bengal’s eight-wicket win. After 28 days, Shami also broke into First-Class Cricket. Donning Bengal’s jersey in the Ranji Trophy 2010-11 contest against Assam, he grabbed a three-wicket haul after bowling 27 overs, however, the match ended in a stalemate.
Shami’s international career began in January 2013, with the One-Day International (ODI) against Pakistan in Delhi. In India’s intriguing 10-run win, he took 1/23 figures after bowling nine overs. After 10 months, he also got his maiden Test cap against the West Indies in the Kolkata Test. In the World Cup 2015, India’s journey concluded in the semi-final and Shami emerged as the second-leading wicket-taker for the side, claiming 17 wickets in seven matches at a thrifty economy of 4.21.
Mohammed Shami’s major achievements in international cricket and IPL career
Mohammed Shami is one of the best pacers India has produced. He is one of the six bowlers for the side to take more than 200 wickets in Tests. In red-ball cricket, he has clinched 229 wickets in 122 innings of 64 matches. His notable performance came in the World Cup 2023, when he racked up 24 wickets in seven matches and concluded the tournament as the leading wicket-taker. He is also the fifth-leading wicket-taker in Cricket World Cups, claiming 55 scalps in just 18 matches.
In the Indian Premier League, he has served Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Delhi Capitals (DC), Punjab Kings (PBKS), Gujarat Titans (GT), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). However, his best came for GT as he notched up 48 wickets in 33 matches at an economy of 8.01 and he is also the second most successful bowler for the team.
