The wait is over. Mohammed Shami has taken a wicket. The pacer has been out since November 19, 2023, and although he returned in Rajkot (on January 28), he remained wicketless in his 3-over spell.
Considering it was his first match in 14 months, Shami did well. The control was fine; he swung and seamed the ball as well. He was good in the powerplay but couldn’t get a wicket.
But at last, he’s got a wicket. 441 days after getting the wicket of David Warner at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Shami has taken the scalp of another southpaw opener, Ben Duckett. With Phil Salt going on in full assault mode, Shami broke England’s opening stand at the Wankhede Stadium.
Salt had taken Shami for 17 runs in his first over, but on the second delivery of his second over, he managed to get his revenge. Duckett looked to hit the ball over the off-side but miscued it so badly that the ball didn’t even cross the 30-yard circle as Abhishek Sharma took one of the simplest of catches.
The India vs. England ODI series kicks off on February 6, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) wanted Shami fit and ready for that series and the ICC Champions Trophy. That is why Shami didn’t play in the other three matches. Now that he’s gotten a wicket, his confidence will be high now, which bodes well for Team India. are trying to ease Shami into international cricket, not putting too much strain on his body.
One can’t forget that the Wankhede Stadium holds a special place in the pacer’s heart. For the unaware, Shami had taken a career-best 7-wicket haul against New Zealand in the ODI World Cup 2023 semifinal. The return to Mumbai has worked out well for the pacer.
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