Mohammad Shami Ahmed

He can seam the ball sharply into right-handed batsmen, make it straighten off a length, and even seam it away when conditions align. However, his most lethal attribute is the disconcerting bounce he generates from a hard length. Despite his middle-weight boxer physique, he outpaces expectations, delivering fiery bouncers with precision. While his inherent skill needs no embellishment, he has further honed his craft with deadly slower balls and pinpoint yorkers.

For a long spell, his white-ball stocks went unsung. Shami made a triumphant resurgence after 591 days in the ODI wilderness. While critics deemed him inconsistent for this format, he swiftly dispelled such notions by becoming the fastest Indian bowler to reach both the 100 and 150-wicket milestones. An average of 25.98 and economy rate of 5.60 are golden numbers in this day and age, and the key to beating India lies in dousing Shami and his straight-seamed magic. Fans in India and abroad have high hopes for him and he will surely come through.

One-day memory: 4/35 against Pakistan at Adelaide, World Cup 2015

In encounters against Pakistan, the achievements of India’s bowlers often receive more hype than they warrant. However, Shami’s performance in this particular match was nothing short of exceptional. Like a gust of wind, he bowled with intensity and tenacity. A venomous bouncer dismissed the experienced Younis Khan, while another consumed Misbah-ul-Haq. He extinguished the last flicker of hope for a Pakistani heist by dismissing Shahid Afridi. His tally of 18 wickets made him India’s most successful bowler in the World Cup, although it would be two more years before he would grace another ODI match.

On a lighter note, Shami finds solace in the company of his two beloved pet dogs, Don (German Shepherd) and Jack (Rottweiler), at his farmhouse in Alinagar, Uttar Pradesh. Spending time with them serves as his ultimate stress reliever.”