Mohammed Shami has once again etched his name in the record books by becoming the fastest Indian bowler to reach 200 wickets in One-Day Internationals.
His remarkable feat came during the Champions Trophy match against Bangladesh, where he delivered a stellar performance, securing a five-wicket haul. This achievement not only underscores his consistency but also reaffirms his status as one of India's finest pacers in white-ball cricket.
Shami accomplished the milestone in just 104 matches, surpassing the previous Indian record set by Ajit Agarkar, who had taken 133 games to reach the mark.
His performance against Bangladesh saw him dismiss three batters early on, including Jaker Ali, who became his 200th victim in the format. He then added two more wickets to finish with figures of 5 for 53.
Among the fastest bowlers globally to achieve 200 ODI wickets, Shami now stands second, only behind Australia's Mitchell Starc, who reached the milestone in 102 matches.
His contributions in ICC tournaments have been exceptional, making him India's leading wicket-taker across the ODI World Cup and Champions Trophy, surpassing legends like Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath.
Despite his dominance, Shami’s journey has been far from easy. After sustaining an ankle injury in the 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia, he faced a prolonged recovery, which was further complicated by swelling in his left knee.
The setback kept him out of international cricket for over a year. However, his determination and relentless effort enabled him to make a successful comeback, reclaiming his place as India's frontline pacer, especially in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah.
With six five-wicket hauls and 10 four-wicket hauls in his ODI career, Shami continues to be a match-winner for India. His ability to swing the ball, generate pace, and consistently trouble top-order batters makes him a crucial asset in India's bowling attack.
Meanwhile, India captain Rohit Sharma also reached a significant milestone during the same match, becoming the second-fastest batter to complete 11,000 runs in ODI cricket.
He achieved this feat in his 270th match, reaching the landmark in 261 innings, trailing only Virat Kohli, who achieved the milestone in 222 innings.
Rohit is now among an elite group of players, becoming only the fourth Indian and the 10th overall to score 11,000 ODI runs. The seasoned opener brought up this milestone in style, striking a boundary off Mustafizur Rahman in the fourth over of India's chase.
His remarkable consistency at the top of the order has placed him alongside some of the greatest batters in the format.
In terms of innings, Rohit is behind only Kohli and ahead of legendary players like Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, and Sourav Ganguly. The Indian skipper now stands behind Ganguly (11,363 runs) in the list of India's highest run-getters in ODIs.
The all-time record remains with Tendulkar, who amassed 18,246 runs in 463 matches.
Kohli, meanwhile, is also on the verge of another milestone, as he inches closer to becoming the third player in history to reach 14,000 ODI runs. With his impeccable track record, it is only a matter of time before he joins the ranks of cricketing greats like Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara.
Rohit's power-hitting prowess is another aspect that sets him apart. He is currently second on the list of most sixes in ODIs, with 338 maximums, trailing only Pakistan's Shahid Afridi, who holds the record with 351 sixes.
With an impressive average of nearly 50 in ODI cricket, Rohit has established himself as one of the most reliable openers in the format. His ability to score big runs and anchor innings has been crucial for India's success over the years.
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