Shamik Chakrabarty in Dubai
Mohammed Shami went on top of his bowling mark, his knees heavily strapped. Reading anything into it would be an exercise in futility, for at 34 years of age and coming back from a long injury lay-off, discretion, or rather precaution, is always the better part of valour. There’s a languid approach in Shami’s run-up. He never looks like busting a gut.
Off he went, with Rohit Sharma facing him at the nets. The ball pitched a bit outside off and the India captain left it alone. The radar didn’t work, but Shami was just warming up.
Rohit was done with facing the pacers for the time being. He went to another net to take throwdowns. Shubman Gill took his turn to counter the seamers. Shami made one skid off a good length and hurried the batter. When KL Rahul came, he bowled a ripper, beating him all ends up. But there were a few anodyne deliveries in between as well. It felt like he was bowling well within himself. After a decent bowling stint, he sat on an icebox for a breather.
The Indian team trained at the ICC Academy ground in Dubai on Sunday and the session was intense. Shami had to be in focus, for he is leading a pace attack that is depleted in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence. Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana have played just 11 ODIs between them and they need guidance from the senior fast bowler. Not a ball is bowled in the Champions Trophy, but somehow it feels like the Indian team, loaded with spin-bowling all-rounders, is one specialist seamer short.
Whether Mohammed Siraj should have been part of the squad is a dud question now. The team selection is done, the stage is set and the players picked will have to deliver. Dubai in February is still very pleasant, weather-wise, and there’s a nip in the air. It’s hard to predict how the pitch at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium would behave, for the venue hasn’t hosted an ODI for a while. But the conditions, the cool breeze, will help the fast bowlers. If the first nets session serves a hint, Shami and Arshdeep are likely to be the team’s two frontline quicks against Bangladesh on February 20, aided by seam-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya.
Pandya briefly threatened to make Rishabh Pant hors de combat with a fierce shot that landed on the wicketkeeper-batter’s left knee. Thankfully, it wasn’t serious. An icepack and a strapping, and Pant was ready to go again.
Coming back to Shami, Dubai wasn’t kind to him in 2021, at the T20 World Cup. Pakistan chased down India’s 151/7 without losing a wicket, and the fast bowler conceded 43 runs in 3.5 overs. The lynch mob mentality turned social media into social disgrace and Shami’s integrity was questioned. Deplorable would be putting it lightly, it was disgraceful. Kohli, then India captain, acted like a leader and stood by his teammate.
“We are playing on the field, we are not a bunch of spineless people on social media,” Kohli had said. “This has become a source of entertainment for some people which is very sad. All this drama created on the outside is based on people’s frustrations. We stand by him 200 per cent. Our brotherhood in the team cannot be shaken.”
Shami is a strong character. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have survived in international cricket so successfully for so long. His teammates respect him. Head coach Gautam Gambhir called him world-class at the post-match press conference in Ahmedabad after India’s ODI series win against England. Gambhir also spoke about managing Shami’s workload during the limited-over series against England. It was done with an eye on keeping the fast bowler fully charged for the Champions Trophy. Can Shami regain his 2023 World Cup form? A lot might depend on that.
Crazy Scenes outside ICC Academy in Dubai as Team India finishes their practice session.
Fans gathered to see their favourite stars!
Rohit – Virat – Shami – Gambhir and more! Fans cheer for #TeamIndia.@ThumsUpOfficial @rohitjuglan
Full video: https://t.co/gZNzQb7D0V pic.twitter.com/XjLdcUykB3
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) February 16, 2025