India started their campaign in the Champions Trophy with a win. In their first match, Team India defeated Bangladesh by six wickets. Apart from Shubman Gill’s century in this match, five wickets of Mohammed Shami made headlines. Shami’s performance caught the attention of legendary cricketers from all over the world. Everyone has praised him. In this episode, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has also praised Shami’s perseverance.
He said that his five wickets in the first match of India’s Champions Trophy are proof that this fast bowler himself is the best version after being out of injury for a long time. Shami returned to the ICC tournament and took five wickets for 53 runs, which gave India to 228 runs on Thursday. Shami also became the Indian and second fastest bowler to take 200 ODI wickets in the lowest innings.
Ponting told the International Cricket Council (ICC), “It is fantastic for Shami to return and take five wickets in the first match of the Champions Trophy. He is such a player whom you want in your team who can do anything for you. Shami always seems to me such a player. Shami was ruled out of international cricket for 14 months due to an ankle injury during the 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia. The injury required surgery and their left knee inflammation further delayed their recovering process that he stayed out of international sport for more than a year.
Ponting said, ‘This has not been easy for them. That year after year is getting better and perhaps, it is the best version of his own right now. So it is such that you want around you, especially in big tournaments. ‘ Shami has taken 55 wickets in three ODI World Cup and has become the eighth Indian to reach 200 wickets in ODI cricket.