"That can actually be a little too much to ask" - Aakash Chopra on Mohammed Shami being sent for BGT 2024-25 after playing just 1 match in a year
Aakash Chopra reckons Mohammed Shami potentially being added to India's squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 after playing just one first-class game in a year might be a hasty decision. He noted that the veteran seamer seemed 'undercooked' in the Ranji Trophy game he played for Bengal.
India will play Australia in a five-match Test series, with the first game starting in Perth on Friday, November 22. Shami is not part of the visitors' 18-member squad, with Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana being the specialist seamers.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the former India opener opined that it might be premature to send Shami to Australia after just one game.
"The Indian selectors are very keen to send Mohammed Shami to Australia alongside Rohit (Sharma). However, it's also been heard that the Indian team wants him to play a little more cricket because one match in a year and suddenly the trip to Australia, straightaway a Test match, that can actually be a little too much to ask," he said (0:40).
Chopra pointed out that the right-arm seamer looked underprepared based on the few clips he saw.
"Mohammed Shami played one match. We couldn't see much of his bowling because that match wasn't getting streamed. We did see the wickets. I will say he is undercooked. You and I want Shami to be there because Bumrah, Shami and Siraj - there is a different ring to it. Bumrah, Siraj and Akash Deep/Prasidh Krishna - you see a little lack of experience there," he observed.
While acknowledging that India's seam attack is slightly inexperienced, the cricketer-turned-commentator added that it would be unfair to play Shami in a Test so soon.
"However, pushing Shami so quickly into Test cricket will be questionable because firstly he hasn't played any cricket for one year. If you play a match after one year, and suddenly you say that he should be played a Test match, that won't be fair," Chopra stated.
Shami registered figures of 4/54 in 19 overs in Madhya Pradesh's first innings in the Ranji Trophy game in Indore. He smashed a 36-ball 37 in Bengal's second innings and then returned figures of 3/102 in 24.2 overs to help the visitors register a narrow 11-run win.
"You want him to play a little more" - Aakash Chopra on Mohammed Shami
![Mohammed Shami has played only one competitive game since the 2023 ODI World Cup final. [P/C: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/11/0fc96-17319088058918-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that Mohammed Shami needs to have a few more overs under his felt, especially considering the ground conditions in Australia.
"If there is a breakdown in the middle of the match or your form looks very bad, then you suddenly ask why so much desperation. So you want him to play a little more. Secondly, if you ask any fast bowler, they say the Australian grounds are very soft, they are sand-based grounds, so there is a lot of pressure on the back, hamstrings, knees and ankles," he explained.
The reputed commentator added that a move to play Shami quickly could prove counterproductive.
"In such a scenario, if you are even slightly undercooked, there are chances of getting injured again. So I will say take a little time. Let Shami play a little more. We want him to quickly play for India again but if you are too hasty, at times the gap becomes longer. So stay with whoever is there," Chopra elaborated.
Shami has picked up 229 wickets at an average of 27.71 in 64 Tests. He has accounted for 31 dismissals at an average of 32.16 in eight Tests in Australia.