In the opening match of the Champions Trophy 2025 against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Stadium, India showed they were more than capable of coping without their premier bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, thanks to the impressive performance of Mohammed Shami. Shami, who was playing his first ICC tournament since the 2023 ODI World Cup final, delivered a performance that not only set the tone for the match but also etched his name in the record books.

In a standout moment, Shami broke Mitchell Starc’s world record for the fastest to reach 200 ODI wickets, achieving the feat in just 104 matches, compared to Starc’s 102. The milestone came in the 43rd over of the match when Shami trapped Bangladesh’s Jaker Ali for 68 with a cleverly disguised slower ball. Jaker, deceived by the delivery, could only sky the ball to long-on where Virat Kohli made a routine catch.

What made Shami’s achievement even more remarkable was the manner in which he surpassed Ajit Agarkar’s record to become the fastest Indian to 200 wickets, doing so in 104 matches—29 fewer than Agarkar, who had reached the milestone in 133 ODIs. Shami’s 5126 balls bowled to reach this 200-wicket mark is the fastest in ODI cricket history.

The achievement places Shami alongside Pakistan’s Saqlain Mushtaq as the joint-fastest players to 200 wickets in ODIs, but Shami’s speed, with his 5126 balls bowled, highlights his impeccable consistency and his ability to perform on the world stage under pressure.

Shami’s performance in the absence of Bumrah only underscores the depth of India’s fast bowling resources. While Bumrah’s absence may have left a void in the lineup, Shami’s record-breaking feat not only filled that gap but also reaffirmed his status as one of the finest fast bowlers in the world today. This incredible milestone, achieved with a combination of skill, pace, and tactical brilliance, only strengthens India’s already formidable bowling attack and signals a bright future for Shami as one of the key figures in Indian cricket.