Mohammed Shami had a tough outing during the ICC Champions Trophy final against New Zealand on March 9, 2025, where he registered the second-most expensive bowling figures by an Indian bowler in the tournament's history.
Bowling only nine overs, Shami conceded 74 runs at an economy rate of 8.22, managing just one wicket as New Zealand posted a challenging total of 252 runs on the board after winning the toss and opting to bat first. This performance placed him below Umesh Yadav, who previously recorded figures of 1/75 against South Africa during the 2013 Champions Trophy final.
Shami's figures were also the second worst recorded by any bowler in the final of either the ICC ODI World Cup or Champions Trophy, following former Indian pacer Javagal Srinath, who conceded 87 runs against Australia during the 2003 ODI World Cup. Reflecting on Shami's performance, he struggled to find his rhythm, giving away 30 runs within his first five overs and leaking 44 runs during the final four.
Despite a tumultuous outing, Shami's overall tournament performance maintained some accolades as he finished as one of India's joint-highest wicket-takers with nine wickets across five matches. Earlier in the tournament, Shami impressed by taking five wickets against Bangladesh and followed it up with three against Australia during the semi-final.
Shami's disappointing final performance did not overshadow the collective Indian bowling attack, which managed to restrict New Zealand to 251 runs after some effective spells from both spinners and pacers. Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav each claimed two wickets for India, with Shami and Ravindra Jadeja contributing one apiece.
Off the field, the match also saw its share of missed opportunities for India; they dropped four catches during New Zealand's innings, which included two chances for Rachin Ravindra, along with missed chances from Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips.
The Indian batting lineup now faced the challenge of chasing down the target set by New Zealand. Daryl Mitchell, who top-scored for the Kiwis with 63 runs, helped his team to set competitive momentum. Other key contributions came from Michael Bracewell, who scored 53 not out, Rachin Ravindra with 37, and Glenn Phillips adding 34 runs.
Taking a look back at Shami’s career, his performance was somewhat unexpected, as he stood out during most of the tournament. This was his first ICC event since the 2023 ODI World Cup, where he made headlines with exceptional figures, including his seven-wicket haul against New Zealand during the semi-final of the World Cup. After being out of action due to an ankle injury for 14 months, he appeared to be still adjusting back to high-stakes competitive cricket.
Despite the challenges faced during the final, Shami ranks high among the tournament’s top bowlers, tying with fellow Indian pacer Varun Chakaravarthy, who also secured nine wickets overall. New Zealand's Matt Henry led the charts with ten wickets prior to being sidelined due to injury, missing the final match.
At the close of New Zealand's innings, it was clear India would need to capitalize on their batting if they aimed to secure the Champions Trophy title. The stakes had never been higher, with the match taking place against the backdrop of competitive cricketing history and overshadowed by the expectations from fans and media alike.
Looking at the team's performance metrics, India had no option but to recalibrate their approach following the missed catch opportunities and Shami's taxing spells. With the scoreboard ticking, it became imperative for the remaining players to support their bowlers by forming resilient runs off the bat.
The pressure mounted on the Indian side as they prepared to chase down New Zealand's total, with every run counting and all eyes on another definitive performance to overcome their previous collective errors on the field.
Fans and analysts will be watching closely how the Indian batting lineup rises to the challenge following Shami's lackluster final performance and the early drops of catches. With historical performance pressure weighing heavily on elements like these, the outcome would be pivotal for India maintaining any grappling hold on the prestigious title they aimed to reclaim from past losses.