Champions Trophy: Mohammed Shami goes off field with injury scare
What's the story
Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami was forced to leave the field due to an ankle injury, in the ongoing high-stakes match against Pakistan in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. The incident took place after Shami had bowled three overs, with his discomfort becoming apparent in his third over. Despite initial treatment from the team physiotherapist on the field, Shami's pain persisted and he was escorted off for further medical attention.
Performance impact
Shami's performance impacted by injury
Shami's injury was apparent in his bowling in the first few overs of the match. He bowled five wides in the match's first over, and his average speed fell to 131.7 KPH, one of his slowest in ODIs. However, despite all this, Shami troubled Pakistan's openers for a short while before he was forced off the field due to his ankle pain.
Replacement strategy
Hardik Pandya steps in as Shami's replacement
After Shami's exit, team captain Rohit Sharma summoned Hardik Pandya to shoulder the bowling responsibilities. If Shami doesn't return to the bowl full throttle, India will have to depend on Pandya as their second pacer. This would mean he would have to bowl a full quota of 10 overs in the game, which could affect India's bowling plans for the rest of the match.
Match
Pakistan lose two wickets in first powerplay
Winning the toss, Pakistan elected to bat first on a slow Dubai pitch. They made one change to their playing XI, with Imam-ul-Haq replacing injured Fakhar Zaman. India, meanwhile, retained the winning combination from their last game against Bangladesh. Notably, Pakistan lost both their openers in the first powerplay - Imam and Babar Azam. Babar was caught off Pandya's bowling, while Imam was involved in an untimely run-out.