Synopsis
Piyush Chawla commended Mohammed Shami's stellar performance in his ICC tournament debut, noting his transformation into a top bowler during these events, particularly after a successful comeback from injury.Key Takeaways
- Mohammed Shami shines in ICC tournaments.
- Achieved 5-53 against Bangladesh.
- Became India's leading wicket-taker in ICC ODIs.
- Fastest Indian to reach 200 ODI wickets.
- Returned successfully after a lengthy injury absence.
Dubai, Feb 21 (NationPress) Former Indian spinner Piyush Chawla praised Mohammed Shami for his remarkable return to form in ICC events following India's decisive victory over Bangladesh in their Champions Trophy opener. He noted that whenever the seasoned pacer participates in an ICC tournament, he morphs into a different bowler altogether.
In his inaugural Champions Trophy appearance, Shami showcased his skills, concluding with exceptional figures of 5-53, leading India to a convincing six-wicket triumph against Bangladesh in Dubai on Thursday.
With this five-wicket haul, Shami became India's top wicket-taker in ICC ODI competitions, eclipsing Zaheer Khan (59 wickets) and raising his total to 60. Additionally, he marked a significant personal achievement by becoming the fastest Indian bowler to reach 200 wickets, now amassing 202 in ODIs.
"The bond between ICC tournaments and Mohammed Shami is exceptional. Each time he competes in an ICC event, he transforms into a different bowler. After recovering from injury, he appeared somewhat out of form in recent bilateral matches, but it was encouraging to see him bowling his full quota. Today, he was noticeably improved.
At 34, Shami also ranks as the second-fastest to amass 200 ODI wickets, tied with former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, achieving this in 104 matches. The fastest is Australia’s left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc, who reached the milestone in 102 matches.
Furthermore, he is the quickest bowler ever to achieve 200 ODI wickets based on deliveries bowled, reaching this feat in 5126 balls, surpassing Starc’s 5240 balls.
"Although we haven't seen 100% of Shami yet, this five-wicket haul will certainly enhance his confidence. Evaluating the conditions is vital, and Shami, with his upright seam position, knows precisely where to deliver the ball.
"He consistently targeted the six-to-eight-meter mark, which enabled him to obtain movement off the pitch. This is why he succeeded in capturing early wickets with the new ball. It was also impressive to see him employ variations, particularly well-concealed slower deliveries," Chawla remarked on JioHotstar.
The right-arm pacer returned from a 14-month injury layoff, having undergone surgery on his Achilles tendon. He sustained an ankle injury during the 2023 ODI World Cup, which sidelined him for over a year.
Following an extended absence due to ankle surgery, the 34-year-old made a successful return to international cricket, participating in four white-ball matches for India against England over the past month.
