Mohammed Shami Biography: Career, Records, IPL Stats & World Cup Performances
This article explores Mohammed Shami’s rise from a remote village in Uttar Pradesh to becoming one of India’s most dependable fast bowlers on the biggest stages.
It covers his early struggles, international breakthroughs, IPL journey, World Cup heroics, and key records that define his career.
Mohammed Shami: Player Bio Overview
- Full Name: Mohammed Shami Ahmed
- Born: September 3, 1990, Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Playing Role: Right-arm fast bowler | Right-hand bat
- Known For: Reverse swing, upright seam position, and delivering breakthroughs in big-match situations
- Career Peak: Highest wicket-taker of the 2023 ODI World Cup with 24 wickets in 7 matches
- Teams Represented: IND, BEN, IND A, EZ, ROI, KKR, DC, PBKS, GT, SRH, ASIA XI, ICC W XI
Mohammed Shami: Early Life, Playing Style & Career
Born in Uttar Pradesh, Mohammed Shami was identified by his father as a rare fast-bowling talent. On his coach’s advice, he moved to Kolkata, where he found a benefactor in Debabrata Das and eventually caught the eye of Sourav Ganguly during a net session.
This breakthrough led to his Ranji Trophy debut for Bengal, where he exploded in the 2012–13 season with 28 wickets in just five matches, fast-tracking him to the Indian national team.
The Early Grind
- Rooted in Discipline: Trained in Moradabad under Badruddin Siddique, often practicing alone with old balls to master the art of reverse swing.
- The Kolkata Move: Seeking better opportunities, he moved to Bengal where he lived with his mentor, Debabrata Das, while rising through the club ranks.
- The Turning Point: His performance for Bengal proved he was ready for the international stage.
Mohammed Shami Playing Style, Strengths & Weaknesses
Mohammed Shami’s success is built on seam position, wrist control, and ball maintenance
During India’s 2013 ODI tour, Australian batters admitted that Shami’s deliveries “hit harder than expected,” highlighting his pace, skid, and awkward bounce.
Strengths
- Elite reverse swing with the old ball
- High accuracy on flat and unhelpful pitches
- Proven big-match performer, especially in World Cups
- Excellent ODI strike rate
- Ability to maintain seam position deep into spells
Weaknesses
- Injury-prone due to heavy workload
- Early IPL years lacked consistency
- Limited batting contribution
Mohammed Shami Major Records & Career Milestones
- 2010: First-class debut for Bengal
- 2013: ODI and Test debut for India
- 2015: Breakout ICC World Cup performance
- 2019: Took a World Cup hat-trick vs Afghanistan (second Indian to do so)
- 2023: Highest wicket-taker at the ODI World Cup (24 wickets) and Purple Cap winner in IPL 2023
Key Records
- Fastest Indian to 100 and 150 ODI wickets
- Multiple five-wicket hauls across formats
- Proven big-match performer in World Cups
Injuries & Comebacks
Injuries have been a recurring part of Mohammed Shami’s career, with problems to his knee and ankle often forcing him out of action. Off the field, a difficult personal phase also kept him away from cricket for long stretches.
Each time, however, Shami found a way back. After a long rehab following the 2023 ODI World Cup, he returned to competitive cricket and once again proved himself as a frontline wicket-taker, showing the resilience and staying power that have defined his career.
Mohammed Shami Career Overview: International, IPL, Franchise
Mohammed Shami International Career
Mohammed Shami is India’s master of the “seam and swing.” He became a star by making an instant impact in every format:
- Champions Trophy Hero (2025): After a long injury layoff, he returned to lead India’s attack, taking a 5-wicket haul against Bangladesh and reaching 200 ODI wickets faster than any other Indian in history.
- Historic Debut (2013): In his first ODI, he bowled 4 maiden overs against Pakistan—a feat never seen before by an Indian debutant.
- Test Match King: He took 9 wickets on his Test debut at Eden Gardens, the most ever by an Indian fast bowler.
- World Cup Legend (2023): Despite missing the first four games, he finished as the tournament’s top wicket-taker (24 wickets), including a record-breaking 7/57 in the semi-final.
ICC World Cups: India’s Big-Match Specialist
Mohammed Shami’s legacy is inseparable from his World Cup performances.
- 2015 ODI World Cup: Took 17 wickets, playing the tournament with a knee injury; among India’s most economical bowlers
- 2019 ODI World Cup: Took a historic hat-trick vs Afghanistan, becoming only the second Indian after Chetan Sharma
- 2023 ODI World Cup:
- Played just 7 matches
- Took 24 wickets, the most in the tournament
- Recorded career-best 7/57 vs New Zealand in the semi-final
Shami became India’s highest wicket-taker in ODI World Cup history and the first Indian bowler to reach 50 World Cup wickets, cementing his status as a big-tournament bowler.
Mohammed Shami IPL Career in Brief
Mohammed Shami made his IPL debut with Kolkata Knight Riders (2013) but struggled for consistent opportunities early on.
A longer stint with Delhi Daredevils (2014-2018) was hampered by injuries and high economy rates, leading to his release.
A move to Punjab Kings (2019–2021) revived his IPL career. Shami delivered three consistent seasons, taking 58 wickets in 42 matches, and became the fourth bowler to reach 50 wickets for the franchise.
His IPL peak came with Gujarat Titans:
- IPL 2022: 20 wickets; key role in GT’s title-winning debut season
- IPL 2023: 28 wickets; Purple Cap winner as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker
After missing IPL 2024 due to ankle surgery, Shami was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹10 crore ahead of IPL 2025.
Season-Wise IPL Performance
- 2019 (PBKS): 19 wickets
- 2020 (PBKS): 20 wickets
- 2021 (PBKS): 19 wickets
- 2022 (GT): 20 wickets – Champions
- 2023 (GT): 28 wickets – Purple Cap
Mohammed Shami Stats Overview
Mohammed Shami Bowling Statistics
| Metric | Tests | ODIs | T20Is | FC | List A | T20s |
| Mat | 64 | 108 | 25 | 95 | 149 | 183 |
| Inns | 122 | 107 | 25 | 179 | 148 | 183 |
| Balls | 11515 | 5326 | 510 | 18028 | 7364 | 3950 |
| Runs | 6346 | 4955 | 761 | 9747 | 6764 | 5509 |
| Wkts | 229 | 206 | 27 | 367 | 283 | 226 |
| BBI | 6/56 | 7/57 | 3/15 | 7/79 | 7/57 | 4/11 |
| BBM | 9/118 | 7/57 | 3/15 | 11/151 | 7/57 | 4/11 |
| Ave | 27.71 | 24.05 | 28.18 | 26.55 | 23.90 | 24.37 |
| Econ | 3.30 | 5.58 | 8.95 | 3.24 | 5.51 | 8.36 |
| SR | 50.2 | 25.8 | 18.8 | 49.1 | 26.0 | 17.4 |
| 4w | 12 | 10 | 0 | 19 | 14 | 5 |
| 5w | 6 | 6 | 0 | 14 | 6 | 0 |
| 10w | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Mohammed Shami Batting & Fielding Statistics
| Metric | Tests | ODIs | T20Is | FC | List A | T20s |
| Mat | 64 | 108 | 25 | 95 | 149 | 183 |
| Inns | 89 | 49 | 5 | 131 | 78 | 46 |
| NO | 27 | 20 | 3 | 38 | 26 | 23 |
| Runs | 750 | 225 | 6 | 1140 | 498 | 150 |
| HS | 56* | 25 | 6 | 56* | 42* | 32* |
| Ave | 12.09 | 7.75 | 3.00 | 12.25 | 9.57 | 6.52 |
| BF | 1005 | 273 | 10 | 1665 | 537 | 153 |
| SR | 74.62 | 82.41 | 60.00 | 68.46 | 92.73 | 98.03 |
| 100s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 50s | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 4s | 83 | 17 | 0 | 119 | 43 | 13 |
| 6s | 25 | 9 | 1 | 37 | 21 | 5 |
| Ct | 16 | 32 | 1 | 23 | 46 | 34 |
| St | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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