High Five For Shami As India Win Opener

Veteran stars with ball while Gill hits ton as Men in Blue beat B'desh

- GOMESH S @Chennai

Is he the same pacer that he was 18 months ago? Can he seam and swing the ball like he did during the ODI World Cup? Will his body be able to take the workload of 50 overs without breaking down? Questions lingered as Mohammed Shami blew hot and cold during the three ODIs against England ahead of the Champions Trophy.

On Thursday, under hot Dubai Sun, the veteran pacer answered with a five-wicket haul against Bangladesh, helping India start their campaign with a clinical victory.

It only took six balls for Shami to make an impact. He ran in from around the wicket to Soumya Sarkar, brought the ball back into the left-hander to take the inside edge. KL Rahul did the rest. It was just the beginning.

With Harshit Rana as company, Shami ran through Bangladesh top-order, removing Mehidy Hasan Miraz next. This time, it was a full delivery, shaping away from the right-hander which Mehidy edged to Shubman Gill in the slip cordon.