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In a remarkable achievement during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami has made history by becoming the fastest player to reach 200 wickets in One Day Internationals (ODIs) in terms of balls bowled. Shami accomplished this milestone during the match against Bangladesh on Thursday (February 20), at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Record-breaking performance from Mohammed Shami
Shami reached the landmark by taking just 5126 balls to claim his 200th wicket, surpassing the previous record held by Australia’s Mitchell Starc, who achieved the feat in 5240 balls. This performance not only highlights Shami’s exceptional bowling skills but also cements his place among the elite bowlers in ODI history.
In the match against Bangladesh, Shami needed three wickets to reach the milestone and delivered a stellar performance, dismissing Soumya Sarkar for a duck and Mehidy Hasan Miraz for just five runs. He clinched his 200th wicket by sending Jaker Ali back to the pavilion after he scored 68 runs. Shami’s remarkable bowling display played a crucial role in India’s efforts during the match.
Also WATCH: Mohammed Shami delivers a beauty to dismiss Soumya Sarkar on duck in Champions Trophy 2025
Fastest to 200 wickets: A historical perspective
The following table outlines the fastest bowlers to reach 200 ODI wickets in terms balls bowled:
| Rank | Player | Balls to reach 200 wickets |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mohammed Shami | 5126 |
| 2 | Mitchell Starc | 5240 |
| 3 | Saqlain Mushtaq | 5451 |
| 4 | Brett Lee | 5640 |
| 5 | Trent Boult | 5783 |
Shami’s achievement places him as the joint-second fastest overall, alongside former Pakistani spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, who also reached the milestone in 104 matches. Notably, Shami has become the fastest Indian bowler to achieve this record, breaking the previous Indian record held by Ajit Agarkar, who took 133 matches to reach 200 wickets.
With this achievement, Shami has further solidified his reputation as a key player for India in ODIs. His career statistics now reflect an impressive average of under 25 with five five-wicket hauls and ten four-wicket hauls across his ODI career. Since making his debut in January 2013 against Pakistan, Shami has become an indispensable part of India’s bowling attack.
