Shankar's feat was not only spectacular but rare as he became only the third bowler to take a wicket off his first ball in World Cup history.
Shankar achieved the feat when he trapped Pakistani opener Imam-ul-Haq with the first delivery of his spell during the fifth over of Pakistan’s innings.
Shankar was brought to complete Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s over after the seamer walked off the field mid-over during the second innings of India’s match against Pakistan. Kumar slipped in the footholes while delivering the ball and appeared to pick up hamstring niggle.
Vijay Shankar matched the feats of Bermuda's Malachi Jones and Ian Harvey of Australia. Jones had dismissed Indian opener Robin Uthappa with the first ball he bowled in the World Cup, during 2007 edition of the tournament.
Dwayne Leverock had pulled off a stunner while fielding at the first slip versus India. Ian Harvey scalped Pakistani opener Saleem Elahi of his first ball of World Cup, which saw Australia taking on Pakistan.
Shankar broke Pakistan's opening resistance offered by the Haq-Zaman pair by taking the wicket of Imam-ul-Haq with his first delivery. Earlier, after being put to bat, India on the back of a spectacular ton by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s 77 posted a mammoth 336/5 off 50 overs against Pakistan at Old Trafford.