Mohammed Shami makes big statement for selection in Champions Trophy amid Jasprit Bumrah's injury scare

After making an impression with the bat in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India pacer Mohammed Shami, whose bowling prowess was sorely missed in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, has made a strong argument for a guaranteed selection in the forthcoming Champions Trophy. Shami, who last played for India in November 2023, will be eager to get back to playing cricket for his country soon.

Shami steals show with bat

Shami scored 42 off 34 balls at a strike rate of 123.53, which also included five boundaries and one six. Batting first, Bengal scored a decent 269/7 with the help of contributions from Shami (42), Sudip Kumar Gharami (99), and Sudip Chatterjee (47). Bengal lost Abishek Porel to Avesh Khan in the second over after being put in to bat first. Following a 92-run partnership between Gharami and Chatterjee for the second wicket, Madhya Pradesh captain Rajat Patidar removed the latter in the 22nd over.

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After that, Gharami and Anustup Majumdar put up 48 runs for the third wicket until Saransh Jain got rid of the latter in the 31st over. Along with Karan Lal, who was removed by Aryan Pandey in the 39th over, the former formed a partnership of 38 runs. With all of the top-order batters back in the hut after being reduced to 205/7 in the 42nd over, Shami joined all-rounder Kaushik Maity and joined 64 vital runs for the ninth wicket, bringing Bengal to 269/7. Depending on his level of fitness, Shami, who took loads of wickets in the 2023 ODI World Cup, is predicted to keep his place in India's Champions Trophy side.

Then later he also took one wicket in his 8-over spell and gave away 40 runs. He struck on the very first ball of the innings. However, his innings and bowling could not ensure his side a victory as captain Rajat Patidar's unbeaten 132 and Shubham Shyamsunder Sharma's 99-run knock ensured a massive 6-wicket win for Madhya Pradesh over Bengal.

The good sign is that Shami has returned to bowl days before the Champions Trophy. Both BCCI and selectors have their eyes on Shami and his recovery. At the time, when Jasprit Bumrah has given India a big injury scare during the Sydney Test, his recovery can be a really good sign for the Men in Blue.

In order to get selected for the Champions Trophy, Shami is giving it his all in the nets. The pacer was previously ruled out of selection for the Melbourne and Sydney Test matches due to swelling in his left knee. After that, Shami took a hiatus and did not return to Vijay Hazare until this month.