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No Shami In India's Champions Trophy 2025 Squad? 3 Players Who Can Replace The Injured Pacer

Debashis Sarangi

Shami might miss Champions Trophy due to injury [Source: @alaskahive/X]Shami might miss Champions Trophy due to injury [Source: @alaskahive/X]

India's prominent fast bowler Mohammed Shami is all set to miss Bengal's first Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) match against Delhi. The fast bowler has been struggling with an injury-prone body, and his international comeback has been significantly delayed due to frequent setbacks. 

After powering India to the 2023 ODI World Cup final at home, Mohammed Shami sustained an ankle injury that kept him out of action from the subsequent assignments. Although he rehabilitated from ankle surgery and represented Bengal in the Ranji Trophy as well as the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the veteran pacer's VHT campaign might be cut short due to a freshly developed knee injury. 

In such a scenario, it won't be surprising if Shami fails to recover in time and misses the much-awaited Champions Trophy as well. While Jasprit Bumrah will likely lead India's bowling attack, Mohammed Siraj seems the frontrunner to play as the second specialist seamer. So, with Shami running out of time, here are three pacers who can replace him in India's squad for the showpiece event. 

Arshdeep Singh

  • Promising Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh has been a valuable asset for India in T20I cricket, scalping 95 wickets in 60 outings. 
  • Although he has played only eight One-Day Internationals, Arshdeep's left-arm angle and ability to swing the new ball up front might make the case strong for his inclusion in India's Champions Trophy squad. 
  • Besides making the new ball talk, Arshdeep can nail the yorkers and be India's wrecker-in-chief alongside Bumrah in death overs. 

Harshit Rana

  • Harshit Rana grabbed the limelight following his bowling exploits for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2024. His remarkable consistency for the defending champions eventually earned him a maiden Test call-up. 
  • In 14 List-A matches, Rana has bagged 22 wickets at an impressive strike rate of 25.3. The fast bowler operates at a rapid pace and can trouble the batters with his hit-the-deck bowling. Despite being a tad expensive, Rana can be one of India's most trusted wicket-takers in the competition, as he has the ability to strike at crucial junctures.

Prasidh Krishna

  • In a surprising move, India might also recall Prasidh Krishna into their ODI setup if Shami fails to recover before the Champions Trophy. The tall pacer can hit the deck hard and extract spongy bounce, making him a legitimate candidate for the third seamer's role. 
  • In his brief international career, Prasidh has scalped 29 wickets in 17 ODI matches. He was particularly effective under the lights and could be India's go-to man with the ball if the conditions are seam-friendly.