NEW DELHI: Former India pacer Laxmipathy Balaji has backed Mohammed Shami to lead India's pace attack with distinction at the ICC Champions Trophy, set to begin on February 19 in Karachi. With India set to play all their matches in Dubai, Balaji believes Shami's experience and skill will be crucial to the team's success.
"Actually, he had out-bowled Bumrah in the 2019 (50-over World Cup) and in the last World Cup (2023). Bumrah is the champion bowler across formats. But Shami has experience and, before Bumrah's arrival, it was Shami who carried India's attack all through," Balaji, now a reputed pace bowling coach, told PTI.
