Mohammed Shami Ahmed

International career

Mohammed Shami, an Indian cricketer known for his fast bowling and skill with the ball, has become one of the key players for India in all formats of the game. Here is a breakdown of his international career, year by year.

2013

• Shami played his first One Day International match on 6 January 2013 against Pakistan in Delhi. He took 1 wicket for 23 runs in his first match.
• His Test debut came on 6 November 2013 against the West Indies in Kolkata. Shami impressed with 9 wickets in his debut Test, a record for any Indian fast bowler.

2014

• In 2014, Shami took 11 wickets against New Zealand. He also became the second Indian bowler to take 50 wickets in ODIs during the Asia Cup.
• Shami was selected for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he took 15 wickets in five innings.

2015

• During the 2015 ICC World Cup, Shami took 17 wickets and became one of the standout bowlers in India’s campaign.

2016-2017

• Shami suffered a knee injury and had to take a break from cricket. He returned to action on 2 July 2017 in a match against the West Indies.

2019

• On the 2019 New Zealand tour, Shami became the fastest Indian bowler to take 100 ODI wickets. He was named "Man of the Series" for his performance.

2021

• Shami played a key role in the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand and took 4 wickets in the first innings.
• In the series against England, Shami took 11 wickets in five innings. Against South Africa, he claimed 14 wickets in three matches and took his first five-wicket haul in Tests.
• Shami scored his first Test half-century against England at Trent Bridge.

2021 (T20Is)

• Shami participated in the 2021 T20 World Cup and took 6 wickets in 5 matches.

2023

• Shami became India’s top wicket-taker in the 2023 World Cup. He also set the record for the fastest bowler to take 50 wickets in World Cup history. In the semi-final against New Zealand, Shami took 7 wickets for 57 runs, the best ODI figures for an Indian bowler.

2024

• In February 2024, Shami had surgery on his left Achilles tendon. Doctors said it would take at least three months for him to recover.
• His most recent appearance for India was on 19 November 2023 in the final of the ODI World Cup against Australia.

2025

• On 20 January 2025, Shami was named in India’s squad for the T20I and ODI series against England. The series will run from 22 January to 12 February 2025. He is expected to lead the Indian bowling attack in the matches.

Indian Premier League

Mohammed Shami has played an important role in the Indian Premier League (IPL) across various teams and seasons. His journey in the league has been filled with consistent efforts and key performances in critical matches. Below is a table summarizing his participation in IPL seasons by year:

In 2025, Shami played for Sunrisers Hyderabad after a ₹10 crore deal. He took 6 wickets in 9 matches while working his way back after a long injury break.

For 2026, he moved to Lucknow Super Giants in a ₹10 crore. He comes into the season in strong form after picking up 20 wickets in the Ranji Trophy and 15 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Domestic career

Mohammed Shami started playing domestic cricket in October 2010. He represented Bengal in the Ranji Trophy and impressed with consistent bowling performances. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he took three wickets for 39 runs in a match against Odisha. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he claimed four wickets for 24 runs in four overs against Assam.

Strong performances in domestic tournaments earned him a spot in the India A team in 2012. During a Test match against West Indies, Shami showed his ability with the bat by forming a crucial partnership with Cheteshwar Pujara.

In the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, Shami delivered a seven-wicket haul against Madhya Pradesh, proving his quality as a bowler. Despite challenges at the international level, he remains a key player in domestic cricket.

Records and achievements

Mohammed Shami has earned respect through his consistent performances and remarkable achievements in cricket. His skills have been recognized with awards and records throughout his career.

Awards:

• Named in ICC World ODI XI in 2014
• Named in ICC World ODI XI in 2015
• Arjuna Award in 2023
• Best International Cricketer Award by NAMAN in 2023
• Breakthrough Performer of the Year by TOISA in 2023
• Sportsman of the Year by Sportstar ACES Awards in 2024

Records:

• Took 9 wickets on his Test debut in 2013, the most by any Indian fast bowler in their debut match.
• Second Indian to reach 50 ODI wickets in the shortest time.
• Became the fastest Indian to reach 100 ODI wickets in January 2019.
• Took a hat-trick in a World Cup match in June 2019 and became the second Indian to achieve this.
• Claimed five wickets twice in ODI World Cup history.
• Reached 200 Test wickets in December 2021 as the third fastest Indian pacer in terms of balls bowled.
• Ranked 10th for career strike rate in ODI Internationals as of January 2022.
• Holds the record for three consecutive four-wicket hauls in ODIs.
• Became the fastest to reach 150 wickets in ODIs in 2022.
• Achieved 200 ODI wickets for India in the fewest balls bowled.

Personal life

Mohammed Shami was born on September 3, 1990, in Sahaspur, a village in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh. His father, Tausif Ali Ahmed, was a farmer and had a background as an amateur fast bowler. His mother, Anjum Ara, managed their household. Shami grew up with four siblings who were interested in cricket, but he was the only one to pursue it as a career. At the age of 15, Shami's father arranged for him to train under cricket coach Badruddin Siddiqui in Moradabad.