Former Indian fast bowler Lakshmipathy Balaji hailed Mohammed Shami as India’s spearhead for the upcoming Champions Trophy. Balaji noted that Shami outbowled India’s gun pacer Jasprit Bumrah in the previous two ODI World Cups.
Shami recently made his comeback after a long hiatus in the white-ball series against England. The fast bowler played two T20Is against England, in which he picked three wickets. Shami played two ODIs as well and bagged two scalps in the series.
Meanwhile, Shami ended as the leading wicket-taker in the 2023 ODI World Cup with 24 scalps in seven matches at an average of 10.71. Bumrah, on the other hand, scalped 20 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 18.65.
In the 2019 World Cup, Shami scalped 14 wickets in four matches at an average of 13.78 whereas Bumrah picked 18 wickets in nine games at 20.61.
“Actually, he 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 told PTI.
Balaji said Shami is going to hold the key for India with the new ball in the Champions Trophy.
“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 will play a crucial role for India. The old ball is anyway… it is a defensive game now. If he can make early inroads regularly, that will give a huge booster to India,” he added.
Meanwhile, Shami hasn’t looked at his absolute best since returning after recovering from an ankle injury. Shami also played for Bengal in the domestic tournaments before he was picked for the national team.
“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. 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 remarked.
“Shami is the leader of the pack right now. I mean, he has been the leader of the pack for a long time now. If you see what Shami has done in 12 years of cricket and, especially, in Test cricket, it has been humongous. Now, if he starts striking with the new ball, the confidence it gives to other bowlers will be huge,” he added.
India will begin their Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20.
