India’s pace spearhead Mohammed Shami on Thursday said he came into the Champions Trophy with an eye on taking regular wickets after he returned to international cricket from a career-threatening injury. Shami claimed impressive figures of 5-53 to set up India’s six-wicket win over Bangladesh in their opening match of the 50-over tournament in Dubai. The 34-year-old stepped up in the absence of fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who was forced to miss the event due to a back injury. Shami himself only returned to competitive cricket late last year after a string of injuries including ankle, heel and knee which delayed his recovery since his last match in the 2023 ODI World Cup final.

Shami was India’s star bowler in the 50-over World Cup at home with 24 wickets in seven matches but the team lost the final to Australia in Ahmedabad.

“It was difficult to get injured and go down from the form that you had in the World Cup,” Shami told reporters.

“Those 14 months were very difficult as I had to repeat all the things and that pinches you and you feel the pain. But I got those domestic matches and four international games (against England) to get my confidence back.”

On his performance in ICC tournaments, Shami said, “I always try, especially in ICC events, that even if I leak plenty of runs, I should at least get some wickets.”

Shami has always been key for India in top tournaments and has snow surpassed former quick Zaheer Khan in ICC ODI tournaments as the leading bowler with 60 wickets. Zaheer took 59.

Shami was missed in India’s recent 3-1 Test defeat in Australia as often Bumrah felt the absence of solid support form the other end.

Shami said it was equally tough for him watching from the sidelines.

“You always miss your bowling unit and the ones you’re usually with,” said Shami.

“You always think ‘I wish I could contribute as well’. You always miss that when you’re injured then you can’t do anything apart from watching games, ball by ball.”

Life, though, has come a full circle for Shami in Dubai, a city where he was trolled with ugly social media abuse after India lost to Pakistan in the 2021 T20 World Cup.

Shami was attacked for being a Muslim and the then skipper Virat Kohli and many former players stood up for the veteran bowler.

“Social media is such these days that it can lead to some unwanted things in your mind,” said Shami when asked about the incident.

“I don’t like to think about such things. People will remind you about the poor performances and it will pinch you too but I feel as a cricketer and sportsman one shouldn’t look back too much and just stay in the present, and plan for the future.”

India next take on arch-rivals Pakistan in a Sunday blockbuster.

Indian pacer Mohammed Shami completed 200 ODI wickets on Thursday, becoming the fastest to reach the milestone in terms of balls taken. Shami accomplished this milestone during India’s ICC Champions Trophy campaign opener against Bangladesh in Dubai. During the match, he bowled his full quota of 10 overs and looked in a nice rhythm. He ended his spell with 5/53 in 10 overs, getting wickets of Soumya Sarkar, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Jaker Ali, Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Taskin Ahmed. In 104 ODIs, Shami has 202 wickets at an average of 23.63, with best figures of 7/57. He has six five-wicket hauls as well. He is India’s eighth-highest ODI wicket-taker.

Also, he has overtaken Zaheer Khan (59 scalps) to become India’s leading wicket-taker in ICC ODI tournaments, with 60 wickets in total. In the ODI WC, he has 55 scalps in 18 matches at an average of 13.52, with best figures of 7/57 and four five-wicket hauls. In his first ICC Champions Trophy match here, he has taken five wickets.

This is also the best figures by an Indian pacer in CT history, and overall second next to Ravindra Jadeja, who took 5/36 against West Indies in 2013.

Coming to balls taken, Shami has taken 200 ODI wickets in just 5,126 balls, making him the fastest to do so, outdoing Mitchell Starc, who did so in 5,240 balls.

In terms of matches, Shami is the second fastest to 200 ODI wickets, tied with Pakistan legend Saqlain Mushtaq (104 matches). The fastest to 200 wickets in ODIs in terms of matches is Starc, who reached the landmark in 102 matches.

Coming to the match, Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat first. India reduced Bangladesh to 35/5 in the first nine overs. Then a 154-run stand between Jaker Ali (68 in 114 balls, with four boundaries) and Towhid Hridoy (100 in 117 balls, with six fours and two sixes) helped Bangladesh reach 228 in 49.4 overs.

Shami (5/53) and Harshit Rana (3/31) were the top wicket-takers for India, with Axar also getting two for 43 runs in his nine overs.

Champions Trophy 2025: Mohammed Shami in action against Bangladesh.© AFP

India have brought in Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami as Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to bat first in their first Group A match of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy at the Dubai International Stadium on Thursday. India enters as one of the favourites to win the eight-team competition, though Bangladesh can spring a surprise. After winning the toss, Shanto said he is very happy with the preparation and said their bowling combination is three seamers and two spinners. “Looks a good wicket so we want to put runs on the board. We have play good cricket today and the boys are confident,” he said.

India skipper Rohit Sharma said he would have fielded first. As for team changes, he says Jadeja and Shami come back in place of Washington Sundar and Arshdeep Singh.

“We have played a few years back here so we felt ball comes on better under lights. All looking good. Everyone is fit and fine to go. Let’s hope we start well. There is no looking back, every game becomes very important in this tournament,” he said.

Thursday’s match will be played on a fresh pitch, with no dew sighted this year as the game progressed into evening. The straight boundary down the ground is at 82 m straight, while square boundaries are 74 m and 62 m, respectively.

Playing XIs

India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, and Kuldeep Yadav

Bangladesh: Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Jaker Ali, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, and Mustafizur Rahman

India fast bowler Mohammed Shami has revealed how tough his comeback to international cricket has been after suffering an ankle injury in 2023 and said there were times when he thought he would never get another opportunity to play again for the country. Shami had injured his ankle during the ODI World Cup in 2023, which kept him out of action for more than a year. He had not appeared for the nation since India’s loss against Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, where the pacer was the leading wicket-taker in the tournament. Shami made a successful comeback to professional cricket through Bengal’s fifth-round match in the Ranji Trophy against Madhya Pradesh at Indore, where he took seven wickets in his team’s win.

He also led the Bengal bowling attack in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, picking up nine wickets in 11 games at an economy rate of 7.85, with a best of 3-21 against Hyderabad.

However, the pacer missed the entire five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series as the injury had flared up again. But, the 34-year-old did make a successful return when featuring in four white-ball fixtures for India against England across the last month.

He is now set to push his comeback even further when he turns out for the nation in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener against Bangladesh in Dubai on Thursday.

“From being in great form during the World Cup to suddenly finding myself on the operating table from that form to being injured was really tough.

“My first question to the doctor was ‘how many days until I can be back on the field’. He said my priority is to get you to walk, then jog and then run’ and thinking about playing competitive cricket is still a distant goal,” Shami told the ICC.

“I always wondered when I would be able to put my feet on the ground again someone who is used to running on the field constantly was now in crutches.

“A lot of thoughts used to run through my mind. Will I be able to do it again? Will I be able to walk without a limp?

“For the first two months, I often doubted whether I would be able to play again as an injury like this followed by a 14-month break can pull you down,” he said.

Shami added that the desire to once again represent India on the big stage gave him the strength to push through the pain barrier.

“After 60 days when they asked me to put my feet on the ground, you wont believe me, but I have ever been more scared to put my foot on the ground.

“It felt like I was starting over, like a toddler learning how to walk and I was worried about any complications. Courage and passion to play for the country are the biggest motivators and the desire to wear the India badge on my chest kept me going.

“You endure the pain and take it one step at a time without complaints or bitterness. The passion for representing my country has brought me this far. It was tough, and there was pain, but with resilience and patience I made it through,” Shami said.

The ace paver further said he will continue to represent India for as long as his body allows.

“My motivation has always been to serve my country for as long as possible. Because once you step away you’re just like anyone else. Today, by the grace of god I am playing for India again and feeling much better,” Shami added.

Team India will miss the services of Jasprit Bumrah in the Champions Trophy 2025 after the pacer was unable to recover in time from a back injury. However, India will enjoy the return of fellow pacer Mohammed Shami, who has successfully returned to action over the T20Is and ODIs against England. Shami was India’s highest wicket-taker in the 2023 World Cup, and former India pacer Lakshmipathy Balaji believes that he could ensure that India do not miss Bumrah during the Champions Trophy. Balaji, in fact, even made a bold statement.

“Actually, he (Shami) had out-bowled Bumrah in the 2019 (50-over World Cup) and in the last World Cup (2023). Bumrah is the champion bowler across formats. But Shami has experience and, before Bumrah’s arrival, it was Shami who carried India’s attack all through,” Balaji said, speaking to PTI.

Shami went on a rampage during the 2023 World Cup, picking up 24 wickets in just seven games, finishing as the highest wicket-taker of the tournament.

In the 2019 World Cup, Shami played only four games but took 14 wickets, just four less than Bumrah, who played five matches more.

Balaji emphasized that Shami’s performances hold the key for India in the Champions Trophy 2025.

“I think it’s very important. If India has to do well, then Shami has to come good with the new ball. The kind of impact he can make in his first six overs with the new ball, it will play a crucial role for India,” Balaji added.

The major worry regarding Shami remains the fact that the 34-year-old still shows off a bit of rustiness despite playing two T20Is and two ODIs, as well as a host of domestic games.

However, Balaji expressed confidence in the fact that Shami can overcome this issue and get back to his best.

“Since that (ankle) injury has happened, there was a little bit of slowness, maybe. It’s natural. But there is nothing you can do about it. It’s part of any sportsperson’s career,” Balaji said.

“He has the experience to get over it and he will do it as he bowls more. It’s just about accepting the (physical) condition and continuing his best practices,” Balaji added.

In Bumrah’s absence, India captain Rohit Sharma can pick among Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana and all-rounder Hardik Pandya to formulate his pace attack. One of Arshdeep or Harshit is expected to feature in the playing XI alongside Shami.

India open their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign against Bangladesh on February 20.

India, the reigning ICC Men’s T20 World Cup winners, enter the Champions Trophy with a 3-0 series sweep over England. The batters impressed with their scintillating knocks, while the bowlers were at their proficient best to bamboozle the England batters. With all their matches in Dubai, India will be keen to continue the good momentum they have right now into going all the way towards the Champions Trophy. Here’s a SWOT analysis from IANS on the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team taking part in the Champions Trophy happening for the first time after 2017.

Strength: Undoubtedly, India’s main strength lies in their top four powerful batters. Captain Rohit Sharma showed parks of his ultra-attacking way of playing in the first ten overs while hitting 119 in Cuttack, while Shubman Gill stepped up to hit a fine century in Ahmedabad. The Rohit-Gill opening combination has been the most productive pairing for India.

Since joining forces in 2023, Rohit and Gill have made 1874 runs as an opening pair in 27 innings, averaging 72.07, including six 100-plus and 11 fifty-plus stands, making for a highly useful opening combination for the Indian team in 50-over cricket.

Virat Kohli also got a fifty in Ahmedabad to add more confidence in India’s ability to control middle overs with the bat, while Shreyas Iyer has stepped up as a very solid number four batter. With Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja batting deep and in good current all-round form, it augurs well for the Indian team in their quest to register competitive scores in Dubai.

Weakness: With no Jasprit Bumrah, it means India are without a game-changing fast-bowling force who could turn around the game in a jiffy in any phase of the game. His absence is a body blow for India, as they would look up to Pandya, Mohammed Shami, Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh to step up.

Another pocket of weakness India have is diluting the powers of KL Rahul. It’s no secret that Rahul has been a handy run-scorer at number five. But with head coach Gautam Gambhir’s liking for left-right combination taking precedence, it has meant Axar has batted at that slot.

Rahul, meanwhile, has been pushed to number six, a place where his recent returns have gone down. A decision like this might backfire if India collapses like a pack of cards in the quest of getting fast runs in their batting innings.

Opportunity: India last won the Champions Trophy in 2013, when MS Dhoni was at the helm. Since then, they have reached two semi-finals and as many finals in 50-over ICC events. While they missed a home ODI World Cup win in 2023 and another Champions Trophy triumph in 2017, they now have a golden chance to make up for it in Dubai.

A Champions Trophy triumph will give Rohit another ICC trophy after winning T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies last year, while the win will also ensure a big result is in Gambhir’s kitty after having a tumultuous time in his coaching stint so far.

Threat: By picking five spinners in Axar, Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy, India have decided to keep all options open in terms of bowling composition. It’s clear that they are going in with an intention to play three spinners in their playing eleven, especially with Dubai coming off hosting ILT20 matches earlier this month.

But what if they are asked to defend totals, and dew sets in the evening in Dubai, it would mean that their spin-pronged strategy would backfire, which then poses a big threat to their chances of winning the tournament.

India squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, and Varun Chakravarthy.

A focussed Mohammed Shami spent considerable time with bowling coach Morne Morkel as a full-strength Indian team started its training in earnest ahead of its Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh at the picturesque ICC Academy practice ground in Dubai on Sunday. With the new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) strictly in place, there was no question of an optional session and right from skipper Rohit Sharma to the youngest Harshit Rana, the entire squad was present where Shami’s routines were interesting. Having recently made his international comeback against England in both T20Is and ODIs, the stretchable knee caps did not go unnoticed as he first tried to get a feel of the conditions by bowling a few deliveries with a short run-up.

He looked gingerly in his initial strides even as others engaged in their physical drills, while a few others engaged in some fun and games activity aimed at improving anticipation and decision-making.

Before the batters entered the nets, Shami was trying to adjust his length and walked up towards the batter’s end in the net with bowling coach Morne Morkel in tow.

From a distance, it seemed that he was discussing the ideal length as he stood on the popping crease at the batter’s end.

Shami was seen pointing at a certain length outside the batter’s crease which could be termed good length (4m to 6m) region. He gestured to indicate that he was trying to move the ball from that particular length as Morkel listened to him intently.

Once the batters joined the nets, Shami was seen bowling full tilt and on occasions did hurry the batters.

Hardik Pandya and Shreyas Iyer were seen depositing Kuldeep Yadav and other spinners over the fence on multiple occasions.

One such powerful hit from Pandya caused a minor but freakish accident as Rishabh Pant was hit on the knee. He was in pain but the physio Kamlesh Jain tended to him with a concerned Pandya coming out of the nets to check on his junior colleague.

But it didn’t turn out to be a serious issue as Pant padded up soon after the first team batters were finished with their sessions.

Kohli, as usual, looked a picture of concentration during the nets. Rohit had a spring in his step and seemed to be in a good mood after a match-wining century against England in Cuttack last week.

When the main batters were at the nets, the ones who were doing fielding drills with coach T Dilip were Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy and Pant.

They engaged in some single-action pick-up and throws. It also indicated that that the troika was perhaps not in the scheme of things as far as the first game against Bangladesh on February 20 is concerned.

The entire team seemed to be in good spirits as Kohli was seen joking during the fun activity which was unique in its own way.

One among Rohit or Virat was sending a tennis ball with racquet soaring and instead of catching, the first guy, who would be wearing a helmet, came under the ball and headed it. A wicked deviation would require the second man to catch it.

There are times when innovative games drills are introduced by Strength and Conditioning coaches to beat monotony.

“There is no specific purpose but innovative way of warming-up other than playing football. And if you ask about the broader goal, you can say that once the first guy heads it, others have to have their instincts up as the ball can come towards anyone and he has to react,” a well-known strength and conditioning coach told PTI.

SRH Schedule IPL 2025: Sunrisers Hyderabad will be entering the new Indian Premier League season hoping to go one better, after finishing runners-up in IPL 2024. Led by Pat Cummins, the men in orange and black looked rejuvenated in 2024, with the opening pair of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma proving to be the deadliest opening pair in the tournament. Those three, alongside Heinrich Klaasen and Nitish Reddy, form a strong core retained by SRH. They also boosted their roster in the IPL 2025 mega auction with the acquistions of Mohammed Shami and Ishan Kishan among others.

Here is Sunrisers Hyderabad’s IPL 2025 schedule in full:

SRH vs RR – 3:30 PM IST –  March 23 – Uppal Stadium, Hyderabad

SRH vs LSG – 7:30 PM IST – March 23 – Uppal Stadium, Hyderabad

DC vs SRH – 3:30 PM IST – March 30 – Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi

KKR vs SRH – 7:30 PM IST – April 3 – Eden Gardens, Kolkata

SRH vs GT – 7:30 PM IST – April 6 – Uppal Stadium, Hyderabad

SRH vs PBKS – 7:30 PM IST – April 12 – Uppal Stadium, Hyderabad

MI vs SRH – 7:30 PM IST – April 17 – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

SRH vs MI – 7:30 PM IST – April 23 – Uppal Stadium, Hyderabad

CSK vs SRH – 7:30 PM IST – April 25 – MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

GT vs SRH – 7:30 PM IST – May 2 – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

SRH vs DC – 7:30 PM IST – May 5 – Uppal Stadium, Hyderabad

SRH vs KKR – 7:30 PM IST – May 10 – Uppal Stadium, Hyderabad

RCB vs SRH – 7:30 PM IST – May 13 – M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

SRH vs LSG – 7:30 PM IST – May 18 – Ekana Stadium, Lucknow

File photo of Indian cricket team skipper Rohit Sharma© AFP