 "Mohammed Shami is far from ready for the Champions Trophy according to Aakash Chopra. AP")
Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra believes that Mohammed Shami is “far from ready” for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, which begins from 19 February. Shami, whose last ODI was the 2023 World Cup final against Australia, only made his international comeback during the recently-concluded T20I series against England at home.
He played two matches in the five-match series. While he endured wicketless figures in his comeback match, he followed it up with figures of 3/25 in the very next game . There’s no clarity from BCCI on injured pacer Jasprit Bumrah’s participation in the Champions Trophy too. Bumrah sustained a back spasm during the fifth Test against Australia in January, and while his name initially featured in the squad for the England ODIs, it mysteriously disappeared on Tuesday when Varun Chakravarthy was drafted into the squad.
Bumrah was expected to play the third ODI against England on 12 February to prove his match fitness before the eight-team tournament. Because of the current instability of the current senior pacers, Aakash felt that India should have selected four pacers in their squad for the Champions Trophy, which is returning after an eight-year absence.
Aakash Chopra on Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami
“I am not hearing great news about Bumrah’s fitness. However, I won’t believe in hearsay, and won’t share what I heard either,” Chopra said during a show on his YouTube channel.
“Four fast bowlers should have 100 per cent been there (in the Champions Trophy squad) because whatever we have seen of Mohammed Shami, he did take three wickets in the last match for sure and bowled decently, but he is far from ready,” he added.
Harshit Rana has replaced Bumrah for the three ODIs against England, and while Mohammed Siraj has been overlooked , Chopra feels the Hyderabad pacer could get the nod.
“I feel a fast bowler will get added. In whose place he will be, we shall find out. I feel Siraj will go to the Champions Trophy,” commented the former opener.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe three-match series between India and England will begin on Thursday (6 February) and go on till 12 February, which is the deadline for all teams to make changes for the Champions Trophy squads if needed.
India, in Group A along with Pakistan, Bangladesh and New Zealand, begin their Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh on 20 February. The Rohit Sharma-led side will play all their matches in Dubai.