Mohammed Shami’s performance is vital for India’s success in the Champions Trophy 2025, especially with Jasprit Bumrah injured. He showcased his brilliance by taking a five-wicket haul against Bangladesh, reaffirming his top form after a long recovery from surgery and injury. Shubman Gill praised Shami’s bowling, emphasizing his consistent excellence in ICC tournaments. Shami became the fastest Indian and third overall to reach 200 ODI wickets, achieving this feat in just 5,126 balls. His fitness journey also highlights his impressive weight loss and discipline in diet, contributing to his resilient comeback on the field.
For India to excel in the Champions Trophy 2025, the contribution of Mohammed Shami will be essential. With Jasprit Bumrah sidelined due to an injury, Shami has stepped up as the spearhead of the bowling unit. In India’s opener against Bangladesh at the Champions Trophy 2025, he claimed five wickets, giving Indian fans confidence in his form. As the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan match approaches, all eyes will be on him. However, it’s worth noting that a few months ago, Shami was not in the same sturdy form; he faced a lengthy injury-related absence and even had to go through surgery.
He spent considerable time at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) before making his way back to domestic play and ultimately securing a spot in the Champions Trophy lineup.
Former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu had an engaging conversation with Shami about his fitness journey after the match against Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy 2025.
Sidhu: How did you shed five to six kilograms?
Shami: I have actually lost nine kilograms.
Sidhu: So, are you skipping the rice in your biryani?
Shami: The toughest part is pushing oneself. After my injury, while at the NCA, my weight was at 90 kg. The best aspect is that I don’t crave tasty food or sweets, and I avoid various things that one should refrain from. Regarding biryani, sometimes cheat meal toh chalta hai. To mera yeh chalta hai toh kya dikkat hai. Since 2015, I have only one meal a day, which is dinner—no breakfast or lunch. It’s quite challenging, but once you acclimatize to it, it becomes easier.
Shami ICC Tournaments
From his fondness for biryani to his incredible comeback, catch @MdShami11‘s post-match interview with @sherryontopp!
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Recently, India’s vice-captain, Shubman Gill, praised Mohammed Shami for his outstanding bowling performance against Bangladesh during the Men in Blue’s opening ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 match.
Shami’s five-wicket haul, with figures of 5/53, included two early dismissals that dismantled Bangladesh’s top order, leaving them in a precarious position at 35/5.
“Whenever Shami bowls in ICC tournaments, he consistently achieves five-wicket hauls. The way Shami performed was exceptional; he created pressure on the Bangladesh batters. His comeback post-injury has not been easy. He is truly a legend,” Shubman Gill remarked in a BCCI video.
Shami now boasts five five-wicket hauls in ICC ODI tournaments, surpassing famous Australian bowlers Glenn McGrath, Mitchell Starc, and Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman by two hauls. Notably, four of these came during the World Cup.
Furthermore, he reached the milestone of 200 ODI wickets in this match, becoming the fastest Indian to achieve it and the third-fastest overall. In terms of balls faced, he is the quickest to this milestone, reaching 200 wickets in just 5,126 balls.
Additionally, he shared details about his first century in ICC tournaments, scoring an unbeaten 101 runs off 129 balls, which included nine fours and two sixes. For this remarkable innings, he was awarded ‘Player of the Match.’
With inputs from ANI
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