India’s ever-reliable pacer Mohammed Shami is all set to return to the national colors after more than a year. He is currently preparing for the upcoming series against England at home. On Saturday, January 18, Shami was named in India’s 15-member squad for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
After Mohammed Shami’s inclusion in the 15-man squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Indian captain Rohit Sharma labeled the veteran pacer “old white-ball cricket” while praising his resilience, class and comeback story.
India is banking on Mohammed Shami’s experience for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy
Notably, Shami was out for almost a year due to an ankle injury and his last appearance for Team India was in the 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia in Ahmedabad on November 19.
The star pacer underwent surgery last year and then struggled with mild swelling in his left knee during his recovery, ruling him out of the New Zealand Tests and the Australian tour.
However, after a lengthy recovery, Shami finally returned to action with Bengal in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, followed by the 2024-25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The experienced pacer also played in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 and showed good form with the ball.
Mohammed Shami is a staunch white-ball cricketer: Rohit Sharma
Before the setback, Mohammed Shami played a key role in India’s run to the 2023 ODI World Cup final and his performance, especially in high-pressure moments, left a lasting impression on Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who heaped praise on his premiership bowler.
After the ODI squads for the England series and ICC Champions Trophy 2025 were announced on Saturday, Rohit Sharma praised Shami’s performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup and said it was easy to see him as a key asset for the Indian cricket team.
Rohit Sharma said at a press conference in Mumbai on Saturday, “Shami is a hardworking white-ball cricketer. What he did recently in the World Cup was great to watch… If you talk about everyone, you can’t please everyone. So at the end of the day, you’re trying to put together the best team and the best possible team to win games in different situations.”
I don’t think Mohammed Shami’s fitness had anything to do with white ball cricket anyway: Ajit Agarkar
Meanwhile, India’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar revealed that they tried hard to get Shami’s services for the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but his knee was not allowing him to play four- or five-day cricket. Agarkar is confident that there will be no problem with Shami’s fitness in white-ball cricket.
Ajit Agarkar said in a press conference, “I don’t think his fitness had anything to do with white ball cricket anyway. I think he played most of Syed Mushtaq Ali’s games and some of Vijay Hazare’s games. With the uncertainty surrounding Jassi (Bumrah), if he (Shami) is fit and playing regularly, the quality and experience he brings is invaluable. Hopefully he will come through the games against England and by the time the Champions Trophy comes around he will be 100 per cent.”
