NEW DELHI: India captain Rohit Sharma heaped praise on seamer Mohammed Shami on Saturday, calling him a ‘stalwart’ of white-ball cricket. The comments came during a press conference addressed by Rohit and chief selector Ajit Agarkar to announce India’s 15-member squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and the ODI series against England.
Shami’s inclusion in the Champions Trophy squad marks his return to the ODI setup after more than a year. The veteran pacer had been sidelined due to ankle surgery but made a strong comeback to domestic cricket with Bengal, representing them in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Ranji Trophy. He also featured in a Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh last November.
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Shami last played for India in the ODI World Cup 2023 final, where his performance was widely lauded. Rohit highlighted Shami’s contribution to the World Cup, praising his bowling and leadership.

“Shami is a stalwart of white-ball cricket. What he did recently in the World Cup was superb to watch,” Rohit said. “At the end of the day, our goal is to build the best possible squad to win games under different conditions and challenges.”
Earlier in the month, Shami was also named in the India squad for the upcoming T20I series against England.
The next big assignment for Team India is the ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled from February 19 to March 9, 2025. The tournament will be co-hosted by Pakistan and the UAE under a hybrid model, with all of India’s matches taking place in Dubai.
India’s campaign will begin against Bangladesh on February 20, followed by a high-octane clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on February 23. Their final league-stage match is set for March 2 against New Zealand.