Former India National Cricket Team opening batsman Aakash Chopra has said that the non-selection of the premier pacer Mohammed Shami in the Asia Cup 2025 squad looks certain.
Aakash Chopra also shared his thoughts on whether the pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will be available for the Asia Cup 2025.
The right-arm quick Shami was ruled out of IPL 2024 after an ankle surgery, but looking at his calibre, the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) splashed INR 10 crore on him at the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Mohammed Shami, however, failed to justify his price tag and didn’t repay the faith put in him by the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). He looked extremely poor in the Indian Premier League 2025 and was even dropped from the playing XI after constant failures.
Overall, Mohammed Shami featured in 9 games for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and bagged just 6 wickets at an average of 56.16, an economy of 11.23, and a strike rate of 30.0.
Mohammed Shami last played a T20I game for the India National Cricket Team on February 2 against the England National Cricket Team at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, where he bagged three wickets. However, he mainly played the game because the team management wanted to test his fitness for the Champions Trophy 2025.
I can almost guarantee that Mohammad Shami won’t be there – Aakash Chopra
Speaking on his official YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said that Jasprit Bumrah is highly likely to be a part of India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad, but that will not be the case with Mohammed Shami, as the BCCI selectors are unlikely to go back to him in 20-over cricket.
“Bumrah, once again, availability will be a question. However, if he is available, because if he doesn’t play the fifth Test as well, then he should be playing the Asia Cup, is what I am thinking. It will be interesting to see what sort of team is picked, but it cannot be too dissimilar to the one that was picked last time,” the cricketer-turned-commentator stated.
