Most wickets taken by a player in a Cricket World Cup match (male)

On 15 November 2023, India paceman Mohammed Shami became the fifth bowler to take seven wickets in a men’s Cricket World Cup match, finishing with 7 for 57 from 9.5 overs against New Zealand at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India, as the tournament hosts booked their place in the final. Shami dislodged New Zealand’s top five batters and added his name to a list that features Winston Davis (7 for 51 in 10.3 overs for the West Indies against Australia on 11 June 1983), Glenn McGrath (7 for 15 in seven overs for Australia against Namibia on 27 February 2003), Andy Bichel (7 for 20 in 10 overs for Australia against England on 2 March 2003) and Tim Southee (7 for 33 in nine overs for New Zealand against England on 20 February 2015).

Shami’s 23 wickets in six matches at the 2023 Cricket World Cup – including a combined 12 wickets for 111 runs from 19.5 overs in India’s two matches against New Zealand – meant he was the tournament’s leading wicket-taker by the end of the first semi-final on 15 November.

He had played three games fewer than Australia’s Adam Zampa, who had 22 wickets in nine matches before his side took on South Africa in the second semi-final on 16 November.

Shami’s outstanding average of 9.13 runs per wicket was comfortably ahead of any other bowler who had taken at least 10 wickets at the 2023 World Cup, as of 15 November 2023.