The former pacemakers of India Lakshmipathy Balaji said that Mohammed Shami “surpassed Jasprit Bumrah during the last two editions of the Odi World Cup (in 2019 and 2023) and added that Bengala’s frencist’s experience will be key in the trophy ICC 2025. Bumrah will miss the next Champions Trophy after not having recovered from a rear spasm he suffered during the fifth test against Australia in January.

Lakshmipathy balaji pins hope a Mohammed Shami

In addition to Shami, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana are the other pacemakers in the Indian team for the eight team tournament. Bumrah’s absence will be a great failure for India, but Balaji expects Shami to be good.

“Actually, he had surpassed Bumrah in 2019 (50 about the World Cup) and in the last World Cup (2023). Bumrah is the champion bowling player through the formats. But Shami has experience and, before the arrival of Bumrah, it was Shami who brought the attack of India, “Balaji told the PTI news agency.

The 43 -year -old man said that Shami will have his task cut with the new ball. “If India has to do well, then Shami has to be good with the new ball. The type of impact you can have in its first six overs with the new ball will play a crucial role for India. The old ball is anyway … now it is a defensive game. If you can make early progress regularly, that will give a great reinforcement to India, ”he said.

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The Mohammed Shami ankle injury and his return

Shami had collected 14 wickts during the 2019 ODI World Cup in England and ended up as the best wickt carrier in the 2023 Odi World Cup in India with 24 chasing leather. However, he suffered an ankle injury during the final against Australia. He underwent surgery in his Achilles tendon in February 2024 and returned to a competitive Crick during the Bengal Ranji trophy match against Madhya Pradesh in November of that year, when he chose seven WICKETS.

The 34 -year -old also played at the Vijay Hazare trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy, before returning international in the T20i series against England in January. He played four limited games against England and picked up five wickts. Balaji said that while there will be slowness in his bowling, he hopes that Shami will gradually recover his rhythm.

“Since an injury (ankle) has happened, there may be a bit of slowness. It is natural. But there is nothing you can do about it. It is part of any athlete’s career. He has the experience to overcome it, and will do it as he launches more. It’s just about accepting the condition (physical) and continuing with its best practices, ”explained former Tamil Nadu Cricket player.

“Shami is the leader of the pack at this time. I mean, he has been the leader of the pack for a long time. If you see what Shami has done in 12 years of Crickt and, especially, in the test cryket, it has been enormous. Now, if you start hitting with the new ball, the confidence it gives to other bowling players will be huge, ”he added.

India will begin its Champions Trophy campaign with a group A against Bangladesh in Dubai on Thursday (February 20). Pakistan and New Zealand are the other teams of the group.