Mohammed Shami vs Jasprit Bumrah: Stats & Wickets Comparison (Who Is Better)

Currently, there is a question dividing Indian cricket fans: Is Jasprit Bumrah or Mohammed Shami the better fast bowler?

Short answer: Bumrah leads in most formats, but Shami surpasses him in ODI wicket-taking rate and is perhaps the greatest Indian bowler ever in a single World Cup campaign (23 wickets in 7 matches in 2023).

This page breaks down each format – Test, ODI, T20I and IPL – with updated statistics, head-to-head breakdowns by opponent and final verdict. Whether you want a quick answer or the full details, it’s all here.

How they really bowl: The technical difference

Watching Bumrah and Shami bowl, you immediately get the difference – even if you can’t explain it. Here’s what sets them apart.

Jasprit Bumrah – The action no textbook can teach

Bumrah bowls the ball with his hand on his chest, releasing the ball from a near-side position. No bowling coach would design this action – but it works like nothing else in world cricket. His wrist stays behind the ball at a very specific angle, causing late inswing to appear almost out of nowhere. Even top-class batsmen struggle because the ball moves so slowly that there is no time to adjust.

His greatest weapon is the yorker. He lands it with terrifying precision at the base of the stumps, whether he is bowling at 145 kmph or a slower 110 kmph. Wasim Akram – perhaps the greatest fast bowler of all time – has said that Bumrah’s yorker is currently the most effective in world cricket.

Mohammed Shami – The God of Seams

Shami’s secret is easy to explain: whenever he delivers the ball, his wrist is completely straight. This means that the seam comes out completely straight, allowing the ball to either seam off the pitch or swing through the air with great control. Former India bowling coach Bharat Arun once said that Mohammed Shami may have the best seam position of any fast bowler in the world.

What makes Shami dangerous is that he can do this with both the new ball and the old ball. Early on, he swings it. Later in the innings, he uses reverse swing and brings the ball back to the right-handed batsmen at a late pace.

Comparative Statistics Across All Formats

Below is a structured comparison incorporating classical statistics and the latest data.

Test Cricket

This suggests that in red-ball cricket, Bumrah was stronger (at least in that snapshot).

One-Day International (ODI)

Overall, in ODIs, it’s close: Shami is more aggressive, Bumrah is more economical. Also, in the World Cup and ICC tournaments, Shami’s performance is different. In the 2023 World Cup, he had a great performance (23 wickets in 6 matches, several 5-wickets). Bumrah was good in that tournament but statistically lagged behind him.

T20 Cricket

In T20 Internationals, Jasprit has clearly been better than Shami, with his economy rate (6.36 vs 8.95) being significantly better in almost three times the number of matches. Bumrah’s superior control and consistency make him India’s go-to bowler in the shorter format.

How They Perform Against Top Teams

The numbers change a lot depending on who they are bowling at.

Bumrah vs Key Opponents (ODIs – first 89 matches)

Shami vs Key Opponents (ODIs – first 89 matches)

What stands out: Bumrah struggles slightly against Australia in ODIs (average of 34) but is devastating against Sri Lanka (16.65). Shami, on the other hand, has been very effective against West Indies. Against top SENA nations, Bumrah’s record is stronger overall.

Read More: Rohit Sharma vs Shubman Gill: Who Is Better? Batting & Stats Comparison

ICC Tournaments: Where it gets really interesting

Big tournaments bring big performances – and here the comparisons get more nuanced.

Mohammed Shami at ICC Events

In the 2023 ODI World Cup, Shami remained unbeaten. He took 23 wickets in just 7 matches – including a brilliant 7/57 against New Zealand in the semi-final. That is the best bowling figures ever by an Indian bowler in a single World Cup. He was not even in the starting XI at the start of the tournament but ended up winning the Player of the Tournament award.

In his first 89 ODI matches, Shami took 31 ICC event wickets at an average of 15.70 – a significantly better average than his total career.

Jasprit Bumrah at ICC Events

Bumrah has played more ICC events and has been more consistent across all matches. In 20 World Cup matches, he has taken 38 wickets at an average of 19.57 and has an economy rate of just 4.23 – excellent figures for the biggest stage. His best World Cup record is 4/39 against Afghanistan in the 2023 edition.

Decisions on big matches

Shami reaches the top in crucial moments in a way that is difficult to explain on paper. His tournament average is actually much lower than his career average, which means he is actually going up. Bumrah is more consistent – he hasn’t played a single great tournament like Shami in 2023, but he has never been bad.

Home vs Away: Who Travels Better?

This is one of the clearest ways to separate the two bowlers.

SENA stands for South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia – the four toughest places in the world to bowl. Bumrah has been exceptional in all four, taking 11 of his 15 five-wicket hauls abroad. Shami is still effective at home, but the conditions affect him more.

In Australia alone, Bumrah has taken 64 wickets in 12 Tests. In England, he has taken 51 wickets in 12 Tests. These are excellent figures – better than most bowlers who grew up in those conditions.

IPL Stats: How They Compare in the World’s Biggest T20 League

The IPL is the best test of a fast bowler’s T20 ability because you face the world’s best batters every single match.

These statistics tell a clear story. In T20 cricket, Bumrah is in a different league. His economy rate of under 7 in the IPL is remarkable when most bowlers give away 8-10 runs. Shami has improved his death bowling significantly in recent seasons – adding yorkers and slower balls – but he still lags behind Bumrah in the shorter formats.

Strengths, Weaknesses And Intangibility

After comparing the stats, let’s revisit the qualitative factors, now with new milestones and records in mind.

Role And Match Load

• Bumrah is often used as India’s premium strike bowler across all formats, especially in the match-deciding overs (final overs, last spell). His role requires both attack and control.
• Shami is often used as an “attacker” as his job is to break partnerships, take wickets or turn the match around with bursts of brilliance. This sometimes comes at the cost of conceding more runs.

Because of these role differences, Bumrah’s consistency and his ability to keep control become more valuable in many games.

Fitness, Injuries And Career Management

• Bumrah has struggled with back problems; in early 2025, he was ruled out due to a back injury.
• Shami had an ankle injury that kept him out for a long time, and the selectors were keen not to rush his return.
• The fact that both have managed injuries and are still central to India’s setup is a testament to their resilience. But injuries and career declines can affect rhythm and peaks.

Records (Good And Bad)

• Bumrah becoming the fastest Indian to take 50 Test wickets at home is a sign of his dominance in that format.
• Shami’s five-wide over (in the Champions Trophy 2025) is an example of instability and “unwanted record”.
• Shami’s record (low average) in ICC tournaments is often cited among fans.

Such records show how both consistency and sometimes distance shape public perception.

Conclusion

Who is better: Shami or Bumrah?

Looking at the bigger picture, Jasprit Bumrah is the better bowler overall at the moment. He is more consistent across all three formats, he is more dangerous overseas, and in T20 cricket – the fastest-growing format – he is on a different level. In September 2025, he surpassed Shami to become India’s eighth-highest wicket-taker across all formats.

But here’s the thing: Shami is not far behind, and in certain situations, he is a really good choice. If you need someone to take 7 wickets in a knockout match (he did so in the 2023 World Cup), then Shami is your man. His ability to swing the ball at pace and keep the seam straight makes him a nightmare on a helpful track.

Honest verdict by format:

• Tests: Bumrah ahead (lower average, more overseas five-fours)
• ODIs: Very close, but Shami takes more wickets per over (better strike rate after 89 matches)
• T20Is: Bumrah is clearly better (economy 6.36 vs 8.95)
• IPL: Bumrah by a significant margin
• ICC tournaments: Shami ahead in top performance (2023 World Cup); Bumrah is more consistent

Read Next: Vaibhav Suryavanshi vs Yashasvi Jaiswal: Who Is Better? Batting & Stats Comparison

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Who has more international wickets – Shami or Bumrah?

As of September 2025, Bumrah leads with 464 wickets across all formats, slightly ahead of Shami’s 462. Bumrah recently surpassed Shami during the Asia Cup final against Pakistan to become India’s eighth-highest wicket-taker in international cricket.

Q2. What are each bowler’s weak points?

Shami can be costly on flat pitches and is below average in T20 cricket. His most notable low point came in the 2025 Champions Trophy when he bowled 5 wides in a single over against Pakistan, which he needed 11 balls to complete. Bumrah’s main weakness is fitness – he has repeatedly faced back problems which have ruled him out of the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Q3. Has Bumrah surpassed Shami in the all-format wicket tally?

Two main reasons. First, Bumrah plays a lot more T20Is than Shami, which increases his wicket-taking numbers. Second, Bumrah has been consistently available when Shami was out of cricket for almost two years due to an ankle injury in late 2023. In terms of quality per match, they are much closer than the numbers suggest.

Q4. Who performs better in ICC tournaments?

Both are excellent, but they appear in different ways. Shami has the most explosive single-tournament performance in Indian cricket history (23 wickets in the 2023 World Cup). Bumrah is more consistent – he has averaged under 20 in World Cup cricket across multiple editions with an economy of 4.23.

Q5. Which bowler should you pick for each format?

For Tests and T20Is: Bumrah. For ODI wicket-taking: Choose Shami. For big match knockout situations: Shami is ahead based on his 2023 record. For T20 economy and death bowling: Bumrah without a doubt.

Q6. How do they compare in IPL?

Bumrah is one of the best IPL bowlers of all time. In 31 matches, his economy (around 6.9) and wicket average (21.31) are much better than Shami’s figures. Shami has improved his death bowling with yorkers and slower balls, but the gap is still large in T20s.