India pacer Mohammad Shami has taken the cricketing world by storm with his stunning exploits in the ongoing World Cup at home.
Shami was included in the playing XI after India were forced to alter their playing combination due to Hardik Pandya’s ankle injury.
As it turned out, the right-arm quick repaid the faith of the team management with a five-wicket haul (5/54) against New Zealand in Dharamsala last week. He continued his brilliance versus England in Lucknow on Sunday (October 29), claiming four wickets (4/22 in 7 overs) to script India’s 100-run victory in a low-scoring encounter.
With this match-winning spell, Shami took his World Cup wickets tally to 40 from 13 matches at an astonishing average of 14.07.
After the game, Pakistan legends Wasim Akram, Misbah-ul-Haq and Moin Khan heaped praise on Mohammad Shami’s exceptional World Cup record.
"What a World Cup he is having, man! Whenever he plays..just the way he hits the seam..har ball par seam lagti hai. His record in the World Cup is -- in 13 matches, he's got 40 wickets. That's a lot of wickets. Exceptional!!" Akram said during a discussion on A Sports.
Misbah, who was also part of the panel, explained why a batter finds it difficult to face seamers like Shami.
"As a batter, we somehow manage to tackle swing as we can observe from the bowler's hand and you have 20 metres distance to react. But seam bowlers are making the ball talk from five metres in front of you. You are on the line of the delivery and suddenly after landing it moves from the seam. And off the wicket the ball becomes faster too," Misbah stated.
"You don't get much time to decide your shot. You are already playing on the line of the ball, so if it seam inside or outside it can beat my bat from both sides. And after landing, Shami's ball looks like it doubled its speed," he added.
India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was equally brilliant against England as he returned with the figures of 3/32 in his 6.5 overs.
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Moin Khan highlighted how two bowlers bowling well in tandem is important for the team.
"Like with batting, partnership in bowling is very important. If one takes wicket on one end and batters start putting pressure on the other end and start making easy runs then partnership can't build up. The way Bumrah starts along with Siraj, even though openers added 30 runs, which shows a bit of stability in England's batting. But the quality of India's bowling was outstanding. Indians were clear that they have to win the match, they know the conditions of the pitch, their captain (Rohit Sharma) played for 36 overs on it. He knows if they have to stop run flow on this pitch, which length to bowl and the way they maintain that length and line is good," Moin said.
With this victory against England, India extended their winning streak to six in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
The Men in Blue will next face Sri Lanka in Mumbai on Thursday (November 2).
