With age, Mohammed Shami, 34, has endured a lot of trials and tribulations, so much so that when he suffered a serious ankle injury during the 2023 ODI World Cup, he feared never coming back to international cricket. However, after being sidelined for over a year and undergoing a strict rehabilitation process, he has successfully returned to the international stage with 5-53 in India’s six-wicket win over Bangladesh in their Champions Trophy campaign opener on Thursday. 

“I thought my international career was over and I would never get another opportunity to represent my country,” Shami said at the post-match media conference.