Can Mohammed Shami Bounce Back Over Fitness Issues to Captain India in Champions Trophy 2025?

The sight of Mohammed Shami bowling at the nets in Dubai with both his knees taped conveys a dismal picture. Shami, once a key force for India, appears to be bearing visible marks of distress as he looks ahead to the 2025 Champions Trophy. It's obvious that the fitness, or rather the lack of it, of the fast bowler has been a point of deep concern. Irrespective of the optics of him looking to bowl at his best strength, a question rises whether Shami can really perform when pressure in the coming tournament rises, even without Jasprit Bumrah as his partner.

Shami has been anything but smooth in regaining full fitness. After undergoing Achilles Heel surgery, he faced a prolonged rehabilitation process that has raised doubts about his ability to perform at his best. Recent appearances have revealed a bowler who looks rusty, having gone for runs in his most recent ODI series against England. These concerns are compounded by the fact that Shami’s speed, once a key asset, has noticeably dropped. While his PR machine keeps trying to project him as a match-winner, those who keep up with the game will not be able to overlook the disquieting truth: the Shami who mesmerized in the 2023 ICC World Cup feels like a shadow of his past self.

Bumrah's absence has created a huge void in the Indian bowling unit, and the responsibility is now upon Shami to rise as the frontline pacer. This is Shami’s moment of truth. As the Champions Trophy unfolds in the desert conditions of Dubai, beginning with the match against Bangladesh, he must prove that he can still be the bowler India needs. His struggles are evident, with both knees strapped and his pace in decline, but the pressure on him is undeniable. In Bumrah's absence, Shami will be called upon to do the bulk of the work, and his display will be keenly watched.

Though it could be said that Shami has been struggling because he is playing on a hard, sandy pitch in Dubai, the truth remains that he has always had to adapt. Even on surfaces conducive to spin, Shami has had the skill to thrive. But his present shape is something to worry about. On the one hand, it is easy to concentrate on the support group, which consists of the likes of Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya, and the spinners. But in the high-pressure game of international cricket, quick bowlers such as Shami are the ones who leave the most lasting mark when the going gets tough.

For Shami, the greatest challenge will be to bowl his full share of 10 overs without being taken to the cleaners. A poor outing, especially if he gives away runs, could do great harm to India's prospects in the tournament. Shami is well aware of the burden on his shoulders—he is no longer part of the team; he is the team's star bowler. The temptation may arise for the team management to opt for more spinners in the squad, given the conditions in Dubai. However, Shami’s role as the lead fast bowler cannot be underestimated.

On a psychological level, Shami’s struggles with fitness could cause him to lose rhythm if he is hit early on in a game. Fast bowlers, particularly those that bank on speed and rhythm, find it difficult to get their mojo back after getting hit for boundaries or sixes. The fear is that once Shami gets hit early, his entire tournament performance will be impacted. His knees, which are strapped for support, are just added fuel to the worries that he is not at 100% fitness.

Shami’s fitness issues have even been the subject of controversy in the past. His fitness was questioned when he was initially considered for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia. At that time, Shami was not even fully fit, suffering from swelling in his left knee. However, despite these challenges, he was touted as a potential game-changer, and the media hype around him only added pressure. Coach Gautam Gambhir, being as mercurial as he is with his choices, may still decide to retain Shami as the frontline bowler despite the doubts about his fitness.

With India approaching the Champions Trophy 2025, the greatest concern is not with the batting unit—there is all the talent there—but the absence of a dependable fast bowler. If Shami is unable to get his rhythm back and play at his best, it may be disastrous for the team. The hopes of a country depend on if Shami can go against the odds and show that he has still got what it takes to be a match-winner. The tournament will certainly put to the test his determination, and only time would tell if the veteran fast bowler can prove his critics wrong and fire for India when the chips are down.

With the entire attention focused on him, Shami has to prove that he's still the bowler he used to be. If he manages to do that, it might be a turning point for India in the Champions Trophy. But if he continues to struggle, it might be a bittersweet reminder that even the greatest can go wrong when fitness and form don't go hand in hand.