Mohammed Shami proved his bowling prowess in the first ODI against Australia in Mohali on September 22, 2023. Demonstrating bowling finesse, Shami secured a noteworthy five-wicket haul, conceding just 51 runs which ensured India's facile five-wicket victory over visitors. This outstanding achievement by an Indian fast bowler on home turf hasn't been witnessed since the tour de force by Zaheer Khan back in 2007.
This marked Shami's impressive second five-wicket achievement in ODIs, augmenting his tally against the Aussies to an impressive 37 wickets. In this particular format, Shami now stands as the second-highest wicket-taker for India against Australia, only surpassed by the iconic Kapil Dev, who leads with a total of 45 wickets.
The brilliance of Shami's performance was evident right from the onset. Mitchell Marsh's early exit in the initial over set the tone. Subsequently, vital wickets, including the likes of Steve Smith, who seemed set for a commendable score, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Short, and Sean Abbott, were pocketed by Shami. His precision ensured Australia's containment to a modest score of 276.
Adding depth to Shami's notable performance is the backdrop of his exclusion from the significant Asia Cup 2023 face-off against Pakistan. Despite this setback, Shami's unwavering spirit shone through, and his match-winning performance against Australia cemented his integral role within the team.
The ramifications of Shami's stellar bowling led to India's emphatic five-wicket triumph over Australia. This victory further solidified India's esteemed No.1 ODI ranking. Moreover, this achievement has ushered Shami into an exclusive circle of Indian pacers, which includes luminaries like Ajit Agarkar and Kapil Dev, who have bagged a five-wicket haul against Australia in ODIs.
Yet, what sets Shami apart is being the pioneering pacer to clinch this feat on Indian soil. Praises for Shami's tour de force resonated across the cricketing fraternity, with a significant acknowledgment coming from former Indian off-spinner, Harbhajan Singh.
Elaborating on Shami's prowess, Harbhajan Singh, as cited by Sportskeeda on his YouTube channel, opined on Shami's unparalleled seam position in the current cricket landscape. He exclaimed, "Mohammed Shami was brilliant once again. Just look at that seam position, so straight. I don't think anyone in world cricket at the moment would have a seam position as good as Shami. Indian cricket is lucky to be in a stage where you have Bumrah, Siraj, too, who can bowl 150 kmph and also win the game on their day."
Accentuating the significance of Shami's performance in Mohali, a pitch renowned for favoring batters, Harbhajan added, “Taking five wickets is no mean feat, especially in Mohali where the pitch is always a batting paradise. This is brilliant for Indian cricket because Shami was the one who hadn't played enough and now that he has played, he has performed brilliantly.”
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