IND Vs SA: Virat Kohli's Equal? Mohammed Shami's Incredible 5-Wicket Haul Draws Unique Praise From Robin Uthappa

Robin Uthappa heaped praise on Mohammed Shami, likening him to the cricketing greats and expressing admiration for his exceptional performance in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 match against Sri Lanka in Mumbai on November 2. Shami’s remarkable display yielded remarkable figures of 5/18, cementing his dominance in the tournament. It was his second five-wicket haul in just three matches, taking his total wickets to 14 at a remarkable average of 6.71.

In a post-game interview with India Today, Uthappa drew parallels between Shami and legendary Indian pacers Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath, as well as the iconic Virat Kohli. Uthappa emphasized that Shami, despite his incredible achievements, is not yet considered a cricketing legend because he continues to play and has much more to accomplish. He noted the striking similarities in Shami’s attitude, hunger, and grit with those of Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath, who served India for several decades.

“He is not considered a legend yet because he is still playing,” Uthappa said. “There is so much left to achieve for someone like Mohammed Shami. His personality is quite similar to Zaheer bhai and Srinath Sir, who have done service for India for decades.”

Uthappa emphasized Shami’s caliber, drawing a compelling analogy with Virat Kohli, highlighting Shami’s role as the linchpin bowler for Team India, much like Kohli’s significance as a batter.

“So I think he is a similar kind of bowler, that same attitude, that same hunger, that same grit. He has the same caliber that we hold Virat Kohli to. What Virat Kohli is the batter to Team India, Mohammed Shami is the bowler to Team India,” Uthappa added.

Mohammed Shami Is Now India’s Leading Wicket-Taker In ODI World Cups

Furthermore, Mohammed Shami made history by becoming India’s leading wicket-taker in ODI World Cups, amassing 45 wickets in just 14 innings. This feat surpassed the previous record of 44 wickets held by Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath. Notably, Shami’s outstanding performance included his third five-wicket haul in the last five ODIs, dating back to the Australian series leading up to the World Cup.

Robin Uthappa attributed Shami’s success to his simple yet effective approach on the field. Shami’s remarkable record in ODI World Cups includes an extraordinary average of 12.91. Among his 14 World Cup appearances, he has taken at least four wickets in half of them, highlighting his consistency and match-winning capabilities.

“He is very clinical with his approach, with his processes. He just does the simple things, over and over again. We just saw Virat doing that again, the hard work in those first 10 overs and capitalized later. Very similar. Shami comes out there, keeps it simple, hits the right areas, and occasionally bowls bad balls. The result of any delivery is very in tune with the process,” Uthappa said.

Despite participating in only three of India’s seven World Cup matches, Mohammed Shami is currently the sixth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament. His clinical approach, unwavering commitment to the basics, and ability to consistently hit the right areas were likened to Virat Kohli’s relentless work ethic and dedication to his craft.

Shami’s outstanding performance in the match against Sri Lanka contributed to India’s resounding 302-run victory, marking their largest World Cup win. With their seventh consecutive win, India became the first team to secure a spot in the semi-finals. Their next challenge will be a highly anticipated top-of-the-table clash against South Africa in Kolkata on Sunday, November 5.