Rohit Sharma labels Mohammed Shami 'stalwart of white-ball cricket' weeks after ugly fight rumors

India’s ever-reliable pacer Mohammed Shami is all set to return to national colors after more than a year. He is currently gearing up for the upcoming white-ball series against England at home. On Saturday, January 18, Shami was named in India’s 15-member squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

After Mohammed Shami's inclusion in the 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Indian captain Rohit Sharma has labeled the seasoned pacer a "stalwart of white-ball cricket" while hailing his resilience, class, and comeback story.

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India bets on Mohammed Shami’s experience for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Notably, Shami was sidelined for nearly a year due to an ankle injury with his last appearance for Team India was in the 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia in Ahmedabad on November 19.

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The star pacer underwent surgery last year, and then during his recovery, he struggled with slight swelling in his left knee, ruling him out of the New Zealand Tests and Australia tour.

However, after a lengthy recovery, Shami finally made his competitive comeback with Bengal in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25, followed by the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25. The seasoned pacer has also played in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 and shown good form with the ball.

Mohammed Shami is a stalwart of white-ball cricket: Rohit Sharma

Before the setback, Mohammed Shami played a key role in India making it to the final of the ODI World Cup 2023, and his performance, especially in high-pressure moments, left a lasting impression on the Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who showered rich praise on his premier bowler.

After the ODI squad for the England series and ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad announcement on Saturday, Rohit Sharma lauded Shami’s 2023 ODI World Cup performance and said that it was just superb to watch while hailing him as a key asset for the Indian cricket team.

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Rohit Sharma said at the press conference in Mumbai on Saturday: “Shami is a stalwart of white-ball cricket. What he did recently in the World Cup was superb to watch... If you talk about everyone, you can't please everyone. So, at the end of the day, you try and make the best team and the best possible squad to win games under different situations.”

I don't think Mohammed Shami's fitness was anything to do with white-ball cricket anyway: Ajit Agarkar

Meanwhile, Indian chief selector Ajit Agarkar revealed that they tried hard to get Shami’s services for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, but his knee didn't allow him to play four-day or five-day cricket. Agarkar is confident that there won’t be any issue with Shami’s fitness in white-ball cricket.

Ajit Agarkar said at the presser, “I don't think his fitness was anything to do with white-ball cricket anyway. I think he has played most of the Syed Mushtaq Ali games and some of the Vijay Hazare games. With uncertainty around Jassi (Bumrah) as well, if he (Shami) is fit and playing regularly, the quality and the experience that he brings are invaluable. We are hoping he comes through the white-ball games against England, and by the time the Champions Trophy comes, he is 100 percent.”