Mohammed Shami, an Indian bowler, finished the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India with the most wickets taken. After missing the first half of the competition, Shami returned to action in India’s sixth-league stage encounter against New Zealand, leaving a lasting impression that many bowlers have never created in their World Cup careers. With the best statistics of 7/57, Shami claimed 24 wickets at an average of 10.70 and a strike rate of 12.20 in seven matches. In the competition, Shami took three five-wicket hauls, four four-wicket hauls, and the best bowling stats by an Indian in the history of the World Cup. Scroll down to read World Cup 2023: Shami Emerges As Leading Wicket-Taker.
World Cup 2023: Shami Emerges As Leading Wicket-Taker
With the best statistics of 7/57, Shami has taken 55 wickets at an average of 13.52 and a strike rate of 15.81 in 18 World Cup matches. In his WC career, the pacer has claimed the most five-wicket hauls of any bowler, with four. In the history of the competition, he has taken the fifth-most wickets. With 71 scalps in 39 matches, Australia’s Glenn McGrath holds the record for most wickets in World Cup history.
The following bowlers also made an impression during the competition:
- Adam Zampa (Australia): 23 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 22.39, with best figures of 4/8.
- Dilshan Madhushanka (Sri Lanka): 21 wickets in nine matches at an average of 25.00, with the best bowling figures of 5/80.
- Jasprit Bumrah (India): 20 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 18.65, with best bowling figures of 4/39.
- Gerald Coetzee (South Africa): 20 wickets in eight matches at an average of 19.80, with the best figures of 4/44.
- Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan): 18 wickets in nine matches at an average of 26.72, with the best figures of 5/54.
- Marco Jansen (South Africa): 17 wickets in nine matches at an average of 26.47, with the best figures of 3/31.
- Ravindra Jadeja (India): 16 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 24.87, with the best figures of 5/33.
- Josh Hazlewood (India): 16 wickets at an average of 11 matches at an average of 28.06, with the best figures of 3/38.
- Mitchell Santner (New Zealand): In 10 matches, Santner took 16 wickets at an average of 28.06, with the best figures of 5/59.
Australia chose to bowl first before the game and dismissed India for 240 runs in 50 overs. Virat Kohli (54 in 63 balls, four boundaries), KL Rahul (66 in 107 balls, one four), and captain Rohit Sharma (47 in 31 balls, four boundaries, and three sixes) all scored significant runs on a challenging batting surface.
For Australia, Mitchell Starc (3/55) was the best bowler. Josh Hazlewood (2/60) and captain Pat Cummins (2/34) both bowled brilliantly. Glenn Maxwell and Adam Zampa each claimed a wicket.
India got off to a great start in their pursuit of 241 and had the Australians down at 47/3. Travis Head (137 in 120 balls, 15 fours, and 4 sixes) and Marnus Labuschagne (58 in 110 balls, 4 boundaries) both knocked the Indian team out of the game with a lack of response, leading them to victory by seven wickets.
Jasprit Bumrah claimed two wickets, and Mohammed Shami grabbed one.
Travis received the “Player of the Match” award for his century.
