ENG vs IND | 'India is blessed to have Shami and Bumrah', says Saba Karim after India's Oval triumph

Former India keeper-batter Saba Karim was impressed with India speedsters Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami after their phenomenal performance in the first ODI against England on Tuesday. 

Bumrah's sensational performance helped Team India bowl out England for a paltry 110 after electing to bowl first in seam-friendly conditions. With his career-best ODI figures of 6 for 19, the veteran speedster became the first Indian pace bowler to claim six wickets in an ODI in England. 

He was well supported by Mohammed Shami, who picked up 3 for 31 en route to becoming the joint third-fastest with 150 wickets. 

Speaking to Sony sports, Karim said that the Indian team is blessed to have the formidable pace duo of Shami-Bumrah. The ex-selector added that the performance of these players makes things easier for the selection panel. 

"They may ask the selector not to do any work now, should they? There you go. The players pick themselves. The Indian side is blessed that way. On one side, you have Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, such formidable players," Karim said. 

Chasing 111, the experienced opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan ensured a comfortable win as India reached the finish line without losing a wicket.

Rohit hit a magnificent 58-ball-76, involving six fours and five sixes. On the other hand, Dhawan finished on an unbeaten 31 off 54 with four gorgeous boundaries. In this process, the duo became the fourth opening pair to stitch 5000 ODI runs. 

Karim heaped praises on Sharma and Dhawan and reckoned that the presence of Virat Kohli further enhances the quality of this Indian ODI team. 

"In batting, you look at Rohit Sharma; you look at Shikhar Dhawan. At no.3, you have Virat Kohli. So I think this has got the makings of an excellent one-day side," Karim said. 

"What is India looking at now? Do the World Cup preparations start now? Is this the kind of line-up that you're looking at? And if that is the case, then are we willing to stretch our boundaries? What can we do in our one-day line-up?" the 54-year-old concluded.