Mohammed Shami has been praised by Aakash Chopra for frequently providing penetrative spells in World Cups, including the current one.
On Thursday, November 2, India set a 358-run goal for Sri Lanka in their 2023 World Cup league-stage match in Mumbai. Shami then produced 5/18 in five overs as the Lankan Lions were bowled out for 55 and lost by a huge 302 runs.
In a video posted on his YouTube account, Aakash Chopra reflected on India’s bowling and suggested that Shami might have had even better stats if he had been handed a new ball. He stated:
“Mohammed Shami wasn’t given the new ball, or else he would have taken seven wickets. He is in such good form. Mohammed Shami is different. 45 wickets in 14 matches, no one has reached the 45-wicket mark quicker than him.”
Aakash Chopra
Shami, according to the former India opener, would not have made the playing XI if Hardik Pandya had not been injured. He noticed:
“He is the highest wicket-taker for India in World Cups and he has taken only 14 innings to reach there. Everyone else is behind him. You played him accidentally. If Hardik Pandya hadn’t got injured, he wouldn’t have got a chance to play. He has picked up 14 wickets in three games.”
Aakash Chopra
Mohammed Shami was inserted into the starting lineup in place of Shardul Thakur after Pandya was ruled out of the past three games due to an ankle ailment. The Bengal seamer has made the most of his opportunity, taking 14 wickets in three matches to become India’s most successful bowler in World Cup history, overtaking Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath.
“India have never played a better bowling unit in a World Cup” – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra believes India’s current bowling squad is their finest in a World Cup. He stated:
“I believe India have never played a better bowling unit in a World Cup. Of course, the three fast bowlers are there in any case, but Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja are there alongside them. India have never had a better bowling unit than this. This is different gravy.”
Aakash Chopra
While noting that Jasprit Bumrah’s first-ball dismissal of Pathum Nissanka was perhaps the ball of the tournament, the cricketer-turned-commentator went on to say that Mohammed Siraj is almost unplayable for Sri Lankan hitters. He went on to say:
“Jasprit Bumrah is a wicket-taking machine. He comes at the start and Irfan (Pathan) called it the ball of the tournament and I agree with him, and then Mohammed Siraj. Looking at him, it seems like he will come and start running against Sri Lanka and wickets will start falling.”
Aakash Chopra
Chopra noted that while bowling first on excellent wickets, Indian bowlers have limited rival teams to 200-225 runs. He went on to say that when they bowled second, the Men in Blue defeated England and Sri Lanka by 100 and 302 runs, respectively.
