ICC World Cup 2023 | Mohammed Shami - Records, Profile & SWOT Analysis

image-lncy9fatMohammed Shami stats (OneCricket Design team)

'Lala' - as Mohammed Shami is fondly known, has been one of the finest bowlers for India over the last decade. The man has played across formats for India and has been a genuine match-winner. His exploits in Test cricket are the most impressive but he is a quality bowler in white-ball cricket too, and can run through batting line-ups on his day.

Now, as he gets ready for the 50-over World Cup at home, let's see the right-arm pacer's varied attributes and what makes him a special player for India. There are chances that Shami will not feature in the playing XI for most of the games due to team balance, but if he does play, he has the ability to make a big impact on the game.

Mohammed Shami Player Profile

Mohammed Shami has been pretty successful in ODI cricket since he made his debut a decade back against Pakistan. The pacer who played domestic cricket for Bengal, soon made himself India's premier bowler across formats and was brilliant in 2015 World Cup. He had a long injury layoff after that World Cup but he came back stronger from that hiccup and produced some quality spells in the 2019 World Cup as well. He has all the ingredients that a fast bowler aspires for, and is a big player for India in World Cup.

image-lnbo744hMohammed Shami has brilliant record in 50-over World Cups (X.com)

Mohammed Shami Records

Mohammed Shami's stats in ODIs are fantastic and he has the ability to produce match-winning spells in both Indian and overseas conditions. Mohammed Shami has 171 wickets in 94 matches with an average of 25.50. His strike rate of 27.4 is fantastic by any standards and is a world-class bowler, one of India's finest. His record in 50-over World Cups is even better as he has picked 31 wickets in 11 matches with an average of 15.70 and a strike rate of 18.6.

Formats
Matches
Wickets
Average
Strike RateEconomy
ODIs9417125.5027.45.57
ODI World Cup113115.7018.65.06



Mohammed Shami SWOT Analysis

Strengths

Ability to seam the ball both ways

Shami is one of those rare bowlers who has the ability to bowl perfect upright seam deliveries consistently. He can move the ball off the pitch both ways and if there is little help in the pitch, he gets pretty dangerous. He has good game sense and is known to outfox batters by seaming the ball both ways and always tends to keep the batters guessing with his world-class skills.

Superb Powerplay bowler

Mohammed Shami is known to make big impact with the new ball and is lethal in the Powerplay. Top batters in the world have danced to his tunes when Shami is in his groove and since 2019, 74 percent of his deliveries in the Powerplay have been dots.

Experience of delivering strong performances in World Cup

A big tournament like World Cup is all about handling pressure and Shami's performances in the World Cup have been top notch. In 7 matches of 2015 World Cup, Shami picked 17 wickets and was MSD's go-to bowler in that marquee event.  In 2019 World Cup, Shami picked 14 wickets in just 4 matches which clearly highlights his big-tournament credentials.

Weakness

Can be expensive at the death

Mohammed Shami's weakness in white-ball cricket has been his death bowling. He has been guilty of leaking runs at the death and has quite often failed to nail his yorkers. He has variations up his sleeves, but tends to bowl length deliveries at the death which has allowed batters to dominate Shami at the backend of the innings.

Opportunity

To stamp his class in home World Cup

Mohammed Shami has been a great servant for Indian cricket for over a decade and this home World Cup is most probably his last 50-over World Cup. He was India's premier bowler in the 2015 World Cup but played just 4 matches in next World Cup, despite delivering some stellar spells.

Now, he is again down in the pecking order with Siraj and Bumrah over him and it is a great opportunity for Shami to stamp his class and make statement by delivery match-winning performances whenever he gets an opportunity.

Threats

Lack of match-practice

Shami has not played enough ODI cricket in recent times and has majorly played Test cricket in last few years. In the recently held Asia Cup, Shami played only two matches and lack of match-practice can be a bit of issue. The good thing though is that Shami is an experienced bowler and knows how to handle big situations, but it will be a bit of challenge, if he is directly asked to play in the knockouts of the World Cup.

Player Rating: Mohammed Shami

Speed- 8.5/10
Accuracy- 9/10
Bowling in power play- 9/10
Bowling in middle overs- 8/10
Bowling in death overs- 7/10
Economy Rate- 8/10
Experience- 9/10

Overall- 8.3/10