Former Indian player Aakash Chopra has sought due credit for Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami, who is out of the team after bowling brilliantly against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday.
Mohammed Shami’s absence from the Indian team since the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy has at times been a major subject of criticism for the Indian selectors and head coach. However, the criticism increased when Shami regained his fitness and played a full domestic season between 2025 and 26.
Currently, he has been a stalwart for Lucknow Super Giants, adding quality to their fast bowling unit. He bowled brilliantly in the 10th game of the IPL, conceding just 9 runs in his four overs, while also taking two important wickets of the destructive SRH opening pair.
“Are we giving Mohammed Shami enough credit?”. Aakash Chopra supports Shami with a big question amid IPL 2026
Former Indian player Aakash Chopra questioned when Mohammed Shami will be given credit for his performance in IPL 2026. He pointed out that the LSG paceman has already bowled one of the best spells in the history of the IPL, that too against one of the most destructive batting units.
In a video on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra wondered whether we are giving due credit to the Indian star who has been one of their greatest bowlers in ICC tournaments.
He said, “Are we giving enough credit to Mohammed Shami, and when will we actually give him credit? That’s a big question. Why are we not celebrating him? I am the same person who was saying that selectors have to make selections, and if they are not making selections, they would have looked at him, his fitness and whatever.”
Aakash Chopra highlights the tremendous magic of Mohammed Shami
Aakash Chopra highlighted that the experienced seamer bowled brilliantly during the recent match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants.
“I also said that if everyone does this in the IPL then they have to stand up and take notice. Then you cannot say that the level of the opposing team was not that good. This is the most competitive league in the world.”
“In such a scenario, he bowled four overs giving only nine runs and took two wickets, including 18 dot balls, in the afternoon game against Sunrisers Hyderabad,” he said. The commentator also said that despite the track not being conducive for seamers, he dismissed two of the best batsmen from the SRH unit.
Chopra elaborated, “I know Jacob Duffy bowled very well in the first match, but it was an afternoon game. There was no help for the fast bowlers in the afternoon game and there was no help for them either.”
“He has also worked on his slow pace” – Aakash Chopra
In the same video posted on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra praised Mohammed Shami for dismissing SRH openers, Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head at the respective scores of 0 and 7. He was out on slow balls.
He said, “The plan was perfect, that he would bowl the full ball, bring the ball in and get very close to the legs, almost a yorker. He said he would not give them space. Then he bowled the slower ball away from both of them. So the plan was very clear.”
Analyzing the situation further, he said that Shami, who bowls just one type of slow ball, moving his fingers on the ball, does not have a knuckleball or a back-of-the-hand slow ball. Chopra told that he has an improved version of the slow ball.
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