Did you know? Mohammad Shami has broken two prominent ODI records of Ajit Agarkar

Senior Team India pacer Mohammad Shami won't be seen in action when the hosts face South Africa in a two-match Test series starting at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday, November 14. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar has admitted that Shami is a big player, but added that his fitness remains a concern as of now. Shami hasn't played for India since the Champions Trophy 2025 final in March.

Incidentally, while Shami and Agarkar remain in the news over the former's non-selection in the Indian side, there's a rather interesting statistical history between the two. Shami has broken two of Agarkar's prominent records in one-dayers.

The Bengal pacer had surpassed the current chief selector to become the fastest Indian bowler to claim 150 wickets in ODIs. Shami achieved the feat in his 80th one-day match, which was against England at The Oval in July 2022. He registered figures of 3-31 as Team India won the game by 10 wickets. Agarkar, on the other hand, needed 97 matches to complete 150 one-day scalps.

On February 20, 2025 Shami also became the fastest Indian bowler to claim 200 ODI wickets. He achieved the feat in his 104th ODI - Champions Trophy match against Bangladesh in Dubai, registering brilliant figures of 5-53 from 10 overs. He reached 200 wickets by having Jaker Ali caught by Virat Kohli, who came in from long-on. Shami again bettered Agarkar, who had claimed 200 scalps in 133 ODIs.

While not a record as such, Shami also went past Agarkar in September 2023 on the list of Indian bowlers with most one-day wickets against Australia. He achieved the feat while claiming 5-51 in Mohali in the first ODI of the three-match series. Kapil Dev (45) has taken most one-day scalps for India against Australia followed by Shami (42), Ravindra Jadeja (39) and Agarkar (36).

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Mohammad Shami, Ajit Agarkar in elite list of bowlers with 200-plus ODI scalps

Both Shami and Agarkar have extremely impressive numbers in one-day cricket. In fact, they are among only eight Indian bowlers with 200 or more wickets in the ODI format. The illustrious list is headed by Anil Kumble (334), followed by his long-time India and Karnataka teammate Javagal Srinath (315).

Agarkar is third on the list, with 288 wickets from 191 matches at an average of 27.85 and an economy rate of 5.07. The former India pacer's stats include 10-four fers and two five-wicket hauls. While he had a tendency of being expensive at times, the nippy right-arm bowler had an impressive strike rate of 32.93.

Player	Matches	Wickets	Average	Economy	BBI	SR	5w	4w
Mohammad Shami	108	206	24.05	5.58	7-57	25.85	6	10
Ajit Agarkar	191	288	27.85	5.07	6-42	32.93	2	10

(Mohammad Shami and Ajit Agarkar's ODI bowling stats)

Shami is currently eighth on the list of Indian bowlers with 200 or more ODI scalps. In 108 matches, the Bengal seamer has picked up 206 wickets at an average of 24.05 and an economy rate of 5.58. The seasoned pacer has 10 four-fers and six five-fers. Zaheer Khan (269), Harbhajan Singh (265), Kapil Dev (253) and Jadeja (231) are the other Indian bowlers with 200-plus scalps in one-day cricket.

Former Team India medium pacer Venkatesh Prasad narrowly missed out on 200 ODI wickets. He finished his career with 196 scalps in 161 matches. Among current Indian bowlers, left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav has 182 wickets from 114 games and fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah 149 from 89 matches.