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Johannesburg’s nightmare! When Shami’s 5/28 left South Africa shell-shocked in 2018

Poulomi Chakraborty

Mohammad Shami's remarkable fifer (Source: @CricCrazyJohns/x.com)Mohammad Shami's remarkable fifer (Source: @CricCrazyJohns/x.com)

The cricket world has seen pacers from different parts of the world, but a talent like Mohammad Shami is rare. When the ball leaves his hand, batters know trouble is coming. With lethal pace, sharp seam, and ice-cold nerves, he turns every over into a battlefield.

Across formats, Shami has long been a pillar for India, yet his recent omission from the national side has sparked surprise. Even after ongoing Ranji Trophy heroics, he has been overlooked from India’s Test squad for the Test series against South Africa.

Though Shami won’t grace the field in the iconic whites this time, his legendary 2018 performance against South Africa remains etched in memory. Let’s revisit the memory of his brilliant fifer.

First innings lights up with a battle of brilliance

In a three-match Test series against South Africa, Team India faced early blows in the first two games and entered the third match with a hope of turning the tide. While batting first, Team India lost two quick wickets in just 13 runs. Facing those early blows, Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara’s 84-run partnership gave a massive boost.

After both the batters walked away scoring half-centuries, the rest of the batting order crumbled under the lethal bowling attack of the Proteas. After ending their first innings on 187 runs, it was the bowlers' turn to flip the script.

When Proteas grit met Bumrah’s brilliance, the match turned into pure drama. With a remarkable fifer, Bumrah tore through South Africa’s batting order, and they ended their first innings in 194 runs.

Shami’s heroics sweep Proteas off their feet

Chasing a 241-run target and a series sweep on home soil, South Africa seemed poised for glory, but Shami’s grit shifted the momentum. As the Proteas came to chase down a 241-run total, aiming a glory, Shami marked the first blood, dismissing Aiden Markram by just 4 runs.

Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma kept the domination alive until Shami came back in the 68th over. In a devastating spell, he first sent Vernon Philander back for just 10, then dismissed Andile Phehlukwayo for a duck, turning the innings on its head in a single over.

After those consecutive dismissals, the Proteas were reeling in 157/7, and Mohammad Shami made the job even harder. He sent Morne Morkel back for a duck and wrapped up a brilliant five-wicket haul by dismissing Lungi Ngidi for just 4. After South Africa ended their innings in just 177 runs, Team India won the match by 63 runs.

Mohammad Shami’s fiery fifer against South Africa wasn’t just wickets on a scorecard; it was a statement. The Wanderers Stadium witnessed a wonder in the form of Shami, who singlehandedly destroyed the Proteas' hope of a thrilling win. Though he won’t take the field in the upcoming Test series, that spectacular spell remains an unforgettable masterpiece in his career.