IND vs BAN Champions Trophy 2025: It didn’t take long for Mohammed Shami to make his mark at the ICC Champions Trophy. After a stunning run at the last ICC event he played, leading India’s charge at the home ODI World Cup, Shami spent a long time away from the game. But in Dubai on Thursday, he started off on a perfect note, that famous upright seam resulting in a wicket in the first over against Bangladesh as Soumya Sarkar edged one behind to KL Rahul.
“In the absence of Bumrah, you want someone to stand up and Shami has done it in the first over. It’s that seam position again, isn’t it? We have seen it go down absolutely perfect,” former England captain Nasser Hussain said on air.
The journey back hasn’t been easy on Shami. “From being in great form during the World Cup to suddenly finding myself needing an operation — it was really difficult,” Shami told ICC in a pre-match video. “My first question to the doctor was, ‘How many days until I can be back on the field?’ He told me, ‘The priority is let’s get you to walk. Then, jog. Then, run. Competitive cricket is still a distant goal’.”
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Shami suffered an ankle injury during the 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia in November. In February 2024, he said he underwent an operation on his achilles tendon heel. His recovery was further complicated by swelling in his left knee, and he was sidelined from international cricket for more than a year.
“I wondered when I would be able to put my feet on the ground again. Someone who is used to running constantly for 12 months a year was now dependent on crutches,” Shami recalled. “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.”
Shami said he was scared to even put his feet on the ground once the surgery was done. “After 60 days when they asked me to put my feet on the ground, you won’t believe me, but I have never been more scared to do so,” the 34-year-old said. “It felt like I was starting a new life, like a toddler learning how to walk and I was worried about any complications.
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Shami, who thanked his family and BCCI for keeping him going, said the key was self motivation. “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. 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,” Shami signed off.
READ MORE: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Full Schedule, Time Table, Fixtures, Teams, Match List, Timings and Venues