Mohammed Shami shows his brilliance in one more ICC tournament

India began their ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a commanding win over Bangladesh, and former India cricketer Piyush Chawla, now an expert, shared his thoughts on the key moments of the match. Among the standout performances, Chawla was particularly impressed by Shubman Gill’s stellar innings. He noted the challenging nature of the pitch and praised Gill’s ability to handle the conditions with maturity. According to Chawla, Gill’s composed approach was pivotal in India’s successful run chase, and his knock helped set a solid foundation for the team.

Gill was named Player of the Match for his remarkable 101 runs off 129 balls, a knock that showcased his skill and patience. His ability to anchor the innings while playing sensibly in tricky conditions was a key highlight of India’s performance. Chawla also pointed out the significant contribution of Mohammed Shami, who made a strong return to the Indian team. Shami’s impact with the ball added depth to India’s attack and was crucial in the team’s overall success. His performance further solidified his place in the team after a period of recovery from injury. Chawla’s analysis underlined the importance of these individual performances in ensuring India’s dominant victory in the tournament opener.

Piyush Chawla also praised Mohammed Shami for his exceptional performance, as the pacer became the fastest Indian to reach 200 ODI wickets. Shami’s impressive spell included a five-wicket haul, which not only cemented his place in the team but also silenced any doubts about his form after a long injury-enforced break. Chawla highlighted Shami’s return as a significant moment in the match, noting how his deadly spell played a key role in India’s victory. His ability to bounce back and deliver such a stellar performance after recovering from injury showcased his immense skill and determination. Chawla’s praise for Shami reflects how vital the pacer’s contribution was in putting India on the winning track, both with the ball and as a morale booster for the team, ensuring India’s dominance in the game. Shami’s return to form proved crucial for India’s success in the tournament opener.

"ICC tournaments and Mohammed Shami—it's a great love story. Whenever he plays in an ICC tournament, he turns into a different bowler altogether. He’s coming back from injury, and while he looked a bit rusty in the recent bilateral series, the positive sign was that he was getting his overs in. Today, he looked much better. We are yet to see a 100% Shami, but this five-wicket haul will definitely boost his confidence," stated former Indian cricketer Piyush Chawla. 

“It’s crucial to assess the conditions, and Shami, with his upright seam position, knows exactly where to pitch the ball. He consistently hit the six-to-eight-meter mark, which allowed him to get movement off the surface. That’s why he was successful, picking up early wickets with the new ball. It was also great to see him using variations, including well-disguised slower balls," he added.