With nine wickets in four matches, Mohammed Shami was named as Man of the Series at the end of the five-match One Day International bilateral encounter between India and New Zealand, which the visitors claimed 4-1 on Sunday.
In the final ODI at Wellington, the Kings XI Punjab pacer picked up two wickets - sending both openers back by the tenth over -- setting up the foundation for a 35-run win. He ended up with figures of 2/35 in eight overs, following up his Man of the Match performances in the first and third ODIs, where he recorded 3/19 off six overs and 3/41 in nine respectively.
He played four matches in the series and picked up nine wickets -- seven of which were from the top order that included early strikes -- at an average of 15.33 and an economy rate of 4.75. Incidentally, India won all the matches Shami played in the series.
Shami is a very different bowler at this point in time... than at any other point in his career so far. #NZvInd
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) February 3, 2019
"If there is one man I have to single out over the last five months or so, it's Mohammad Shami," India coach Ravi Shastri pointed out. "He has been outstanding, that too across all formats."
It was the first time Shami, who will play for KXIP in the upcoming VIVO Indian Premier League, was named the Man of the Series in his career.