Not Jasprit Bumrah! Mohammed Shami names India’s No. 1 bowler

Jasprit Bumrah is one of the finest bowlers India has ever produced. The 30-year-old right-arm pacer played a major role in helping India win the T20 World Cup title last month by taking 15 wickets in eight matches. For his super show in the 20-team tournament, the Ahmedabad-based cricketer won the Player of the Series award. The star cricketer, who made his international debut for India in January 2016, is the only bowler in the world to have reached the No. 1 position in the ICC rankings in all three formats of the game. He achieved the feat during the India-England Test series played earlier this year.

Many former greats and experts in the sport believe that Bumrah is the best white-ball bowler of all time. But when Indian star player Mohammed Shami was asked about India’s number one bowler during a recent interview, he ignored Bumrah and mentioned his name instead.

“Abhi? Main he manta hoon,” Shami said when asked, “India ka sabse behtar bowler kaun?” by Shubhankar Mishra on his YouTube channel. (From 53:40)

“Humari jo unit rahi hai, mai, Jassi (Bumrah), Ishant bhi usme tha, Bhuvneshwar bhi usme tha, Umesh Yadav. Jo 5-6 the naa hum ek saath, mujhe lagta hai duniya ki kisi unit ne itna enjoy nahi kiya hoga jo is unit ne kiya hai. Main to moonta hoon.. main 1 or no. 2 pe believe nahi karta. As a person, as a sportsman, as a unit, jo meri life mei ye 5-6 logo ki unit bani thi na one of the best thi,” Shami added.

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Shami, who has been out of action since November 2023 due to injury, made his international debut for India on January 6, 2013, in an ODI match against Pakistan in Delhi. In the past 11 years, the 33-year-old cricketer has played 64 Tests, 101 ODIs and 23 T20Is for India and dismissed 448 batters. He holds the record for taking the most wickets for India in ODI World Cup history.

Bumrah, on the other hand, has dismissed 397 batters in 195 international matches since making his debut in January 2016 against Australia in Sydney.

Shami, who has been out of action since November 2023 due to injury, made his international debut for India on January 6, 2013, in an ODI match against Pakistan in Delhi. In the past 11 years, the 33-year-old cricketer has played 64 Tests, 101 ODIs and 23 T20Is for India and dismissed 448 batters. He holds the record for taking the most wickets for India in ODI World Cup history.

Bumrah, on the other hand, has dismissed 397 batters in 195 international matches since making his debut in January 2016 against Australia in Sydney.