Five greatest international cricketers from West Bengal

Mohammed Shami

Though Shami originally hails from Amroha district in Uttar Pradesh, he has played all his domestic cricket for Bengal. Since making his debut against Pakistan in an ODI match in 2013, he has established himself as Team India’s premier new ball bowler. So far, he has taken 86 wickets at 30.87 from 25 Tests, besides claiming 91 scalps at 24.69 in the ODIs.

What makes Shami one of the most difficult bowlers to face is his ability to extract swing and movement off the wicket with both the new ball and the old. He was India’s leading wicket taker in the 2015 ODI World Cup where he claimed 17 wickets at 17.29 with an economy of 4.81. His bowling was at the heart of India enjoying an unbeatable run on their way to the semi-finals where they lost to the eventual winners, Australia.

Shami is only 26 and, therefore, has years of on-field glory awaiting him. If he continues to bowl the way he has been doing for the last couple of years, there is every chance of him finishing as one of India’s all-time greatest pacers.