After removing Kagiso Rabada for the 200th wicket of his career on Day 3 of the first Test against South Africa at SuperSport Park in Centurion, Mohammed Shami reached the 200-wicket club on Tuesday. In his 55th Test match, the 31-year-old pacer became the third Indian pacer to achieve the landmark.
Rabada's wicket was Shami's fifth of the innings, making him the 11th Indian bowler to have 200 or more wickets. He is the only fast bowler to have done so.
In the current standings, Shami is only behind Kapil Dev (434), Ishant Sharma (311), Zaheer Khan (311), and Javagal Srinath (236).
Shami's bowling is exemplary as he threw away the top three South African batsmen before getting Temba Bavuma in the next over to get his 6th five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Shami bowled out Keegan Petersen and Aidan Markram, then took the wickets of Temba Bavuma and Keegan Petersen before returning to get Temba Bavuma.
Netizens appreciated Shami on the historic moment
What a champion spell. #Shami. 200 wickets. Didn't let India miss Bumrah today. Love watching him bowl.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 28, 2021
List of India pacers who took 200 or more wickets in Tests:
Kapil Dev - 434 in 227 innings
Zaheer Khan - 311 in 165 innings
Ishant Sharma - 311 in 185 innings
Javagal Srinath - 236 in 121 innings
Mohd Shami - 200 in 103 innings