India's bowling attack has been outstanding in the 2023 World Cup, especially the pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj. Initially, Shami was not a part of the playing eleven for the first four matches, with India opting for Hardik Pandya and Shardul Thakur as the additional pacers. However, an ankle injury to Pandya during the match against Bangladesh led to a strategic shift, resulting in Shami's inclusion as a specialist bowler.
Shami marked his debut in the ODI World Cup 2023 against New Zealand in Dharamsala and has delivered exceptional performances since then. Remarkably, he has claimed the highest number of wickets among Indian bowlers in the tournament after just four appearances.
Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir, speaking with Sportskeeda, predicted that Mohammed Shami is likely to finish the tournament with more wickets than Jasprit Bumrah. Currently, Bumrah holds 15 wickets, just one fewer than Shami's tally of 16, despite having played four additional matches.
"I think Shami because people do not take on Jasprit Bumrah. He's too good a bowler for an opposition to take him on. A lot of times, the best bowler will not have the most number of wickets. The reason is that the opposition thinks let's see him off. If you observe Jasprit Bumrah's initial spell, no one wants to take him on. A lot of times, the team's best bowler would have a very good economy rate, but he won't have a lot of wickets," Gambhir said.
"I feel Shami (will take more wickets), from the point of view that opposition will look to attack him because of Jasprit Bumrah. And he's bowling one change. I still feel Jasprit Bumrah is the X factor in the team. This Indian team is such a strong team because of him. But Shami will have more wickets," he concluded.
Looking ahead, India is set to play their semi-final match on November 15, probably against New Zealand at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. Known for assisting pacers under lights, the Mumbai venue could add an intriguing element to the contest between Shami and Bumrah, particularly if India ends up bowling in the second half of the game. This scenario could further intensify the friendly rivalry between the two bowlers, as they continue to contribute significantly to India's success in the tournament.
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