Will Mohammed Shami Make The Indian ICC Champions Trophy Squad?

Mohammed Shami has been left out of the Indian squad since picking 24 wickets in seven innings at the 2023 ODI World Cup. The 34-year-old Indian pacer has been away for more than a year. He missed the 2024 IPL and T20 World Cup due to facing a chronic right heel injury and underwent surgery in his Achilles tendon. Shami also faced a minor knee injury after making his comeback in domestic sports playing for Bengal. The pacer's knee swelling forced the BCCI medical staff to rule him out of the last two Border-Gavaskar Trophy tests, which Australia won with a 3-1 victory over India.

Despite the setbacks, Shami has been maintaining constant outings in the domestic tournaments. After making his comeback by strengthening Bengal’s bowling attack with a seven-wicket haul to claim victory against Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy. He also played all nine matches for Bengal in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with eleven scalps, helping the squad reach the quarterfinal. The player also made some appearances for Bengal during the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Shami's performance has been closely monitored by NCA physios since his return to domestic tournaments. As per the source, Shami’s performance in the pre-quarterfinal against Haryana was supposed to be closely watched to assess his readiness for the England series. (Bengal was knocked out in the preliminary quarterfinal match against Haryana despite Shami's 3/61 performance.)

Why Does Team India Need Mohammed Shami For The Champions Trophy?

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Team India certainly needs to make some tough calls as Jasprit Bumrah’s position in the team remains uncertain. The Indian pacer experienced a back spasm during the Sydney test against Australia and did not bowl during the final match. Currently the 31-year-old has been in touch with a New Zealand-based orthopedic surgeon who will brief the BCCI about Bumrah’s condition. As per reports, “Bumrah is likely to be included in India's 15-member squad, provided he is "pain-free."

This sudden change can alter the bowling attack for India; it can, however, help Mohammed Shami to join the team for the Champions Trophy. As per former head coach Ravi Shastri, Shami has been “sitting in the NCA” for far too long and should have been part of the team during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as well. “A player of his ability, I would have brought him to Australia,” Sashtri stated in the ICC review.

Mohammed Shami has showcased his skills in all formats for team India so far. The 34-year-old's ability to keep the seam straight and move the ball, whether new or old, to take crucial wickets, especially during the death overs, has made him a great asset for the men in blue. So far, Shami has taken 55 wickets in 18 innings at ICC ODI World Cup matches across nine editions.

His current performance highlights there is no change in his bowling prowess amid the injury. According to many sources, Mohammed Shami will likely join the team if he maintains his fitness, creating a positive lean for fans towards him playing white-ball cricket. The BCCI is expected to submit their provisional 15-member team squad for the Champions Trophy by the end of this week.