Mohammed Shami is one of India’s most successful fast bowlers ever. He has played for India in all three formats and is a key part of the bowling attack. He can swing the ball both ways, as well as reverse swing and bowl deadly yorkers. He has taken more than 400 wickets in international cricket and participated in many memorable wins for India.
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From farmer’s son to fast bowler
The birth of Mohammed Shami took place on 3 September 1990 in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh. He came from a poor farmer family and had four brothers and sisters. His father, Tauseef Ahmed, was a former fast bowler who inspired Shami to play cricket. Shami started playing cricket when he was 15 years old and was taken to a coach named Badruddin Siddique in Moradabad, a town near his home.
Mohammed Shami debuted in first-class cricket for Bengal in the 2010-11 Ranji Trophy season. He impressed everyone with his speed and swing and took 28 wickets in five matches, including two ten-wicket hauls. He also played for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2011 and 2013.
Making a mark in international cricket
Shami made his debut in international cricket in an ODI against Pakistan in Delhi in January 2013. He bowled four maiden overs and took one wicket in a close win for India. He became the first Indian and only the eighth bowler in the world to bowl four or more maiden overs on his ODI debut.
He made his Test debut later that year against the West Indies in Kolkata in November 2013. He took five wickets in the second innings and helped India win by an innings and 51 runs. He became the third Indian fast bowler to take five wickets on his Test debut.
Mohammed Shami became a regular member of the Indian team in all formats and played a crucial role in many series wins for India. He was India’s best fast bowler in the 2015 World Cup in Australia, where he took 17 wickets in seven matches at an average of 17.29. He also played a crucial role in India’s historic Test series win in Australia in 2018-19, where he took 16 wickets in four matches at an average of 26.18.
Achievements and records
Mohammed Shami has achieved many milestones and records in his international career. Some of them are:
- He is the fastest Indian bowler to take 100 ODI wickets, which he achieved in his 56th match against New Zealand in January 2019.
- He is the second Indian bowler to take a hat-trick in a World Cup match, against Afghanistan in June 2019. The first was played by Chetan Sharma against New Zealand in 1987.
- He is the third-fastest Indian bowler to take 150 ODI wickets, which he achieved in his 78th match against England in July 2022. The first two were Zaheer Khan (77 matches) and Ajit Agarkar (67 matches).
- He is the only Indian bowler to take five-wicket hauls against all Test-playing nations (except Bangladesh).
- He is the only Indian fast bowler to haul two six-wicket hauls outside Asia.
Earnings and endorsements
Mohammed Shami has earned a lot of money from his cricket career, especially from his IPL contracts and BCCI salary. According to various sources, his net worth is around $6 million USD or Rs. 45 crore INR. His annual income is around Rs. 6 crore INR.
Mohammed Shami has also signed endorsement deals with several brands, such as Nike, Pepsi, MRF Tyres, Oppo Mobiles, etc. His brand endorsement fee is around Rs. 1 crore INR.
Personal life and controversy
Mohammed Shami married Hasin Jahan, a former model and cheerleader, in 2014. They have a daughter named Aaira Shami, who was born in 2015. However, their marriage has been full of troubles and accusations of domestic violence, cheating, match-fixing, etc.
In March 2018, Hasin Jahan filed a complaint against Shami and his family. He accused them of physical and mental abuse, dowry harassment, and extramarital affairs.
Shami denied all the accusations and claimed he was framed by his wife. He said that he loved his wife and daughter and was ready to sort out the issues with his wife.
The BCCI withheld Shami’s central contract pending an investigation into the accusations. However, after a clearance from the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), Shami was given a Grade B contract by the BCCI in March 2018.
In September 2018, Shami was charged with domestic violence and sexual harassment by the Kolkata Police based on Hasin Jahan’s complaint.
In January 2019, Hasin Jahan filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking the arrest of Shami and his family members. She also sought Rs. 7 lakh per month as Shami’s maintenance.
In March 2019, Shami was cleared by the Kolkata Police in match-fixing accusations. The ACU report stated that Shami was not guilty of wrongdoing or corruption in relation to cricket.
In June 2019, Hasin Jahan was arrested for creating a ruckus at Shami’s residence in Amroha. She allegedly barged into the house and locked herself in a room with her daughter. She also threatened to kill herself and her daughter if Shami did not come meet her. She was later released on bail.
In July 2020, Shami revealed that he thought of killing himself three times during personal and professional troubles. He said he was depressed and lonely and lost confidence in himself. He thanked his family and friends for supporting him and helping him overcome his difficulties.
As of January 2023, Shami is separated from his wife Hasin Jahan. They have not yet filed for divorce and their legal battle is still ongoing.
Mohammed Shami is part of the upcoming world cup
Despite his ups and downs, Mohammed Shami is now determined to serve his country in the upcoming world cup. He is also listed as a possible member of the Indian squad for the World Cup. We best wishes for this talented bowler.
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