The veteran speedster Mohammed Shami looked in a completely different flow against New Zealand. Mohammed Shami took a 5 wicket haul and foxed the batters with the variations and bowled straight lines & lengths. The decision to include Mohammed Shami in place of Shardul Thakur actually worked quite well.
The management now has a happy headache as to whether to include Shami, Siraj & Bumrah for the next clash against England or bring back Shardul Thakur who is often termed to be the bowler with the golden arm and can also provide lusty blows at the back end of the innings for the team.
You think about leaving Mohammed Shami out because you need batting at No. 8- Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra was seen speaking on his YouTube channel and heaped praise on the veteran speedster Mohammed Shami and said that Shami could have taken a 5 wicket haul even on a flat deck. Aakash Chopra pointed out that the side doesn’t need a No.8 batter if the side has Shami who can pick 5 wickets for the side.
“The story would have looked extremely different if 300 had been scored. The Indian bowlers made a stellar comeback. Shami picked up five wickets. He picked up five wickets in Mohali as well (against Australia). You give him a flat pitch and he picks up a five-wicket haul,” said Aakash Chopra.
“No one looks close to him when he is in form. It is a fact, listen to it, understand it, and think about it. You think about leaving him out because you need batting at No. 8 but if it’s Shami’s day and he gives you 5 wickets, you don’t need batting at No. 8,” he stated.
“If Mohammed Shami had not played this match, the opposing team might have made 305, and 305 wouldn’t have been chased. Either Ravichandran Ashwin or Shardul Thakur would have come at No. 8 and it wouldn’t have gotten chased,” he added.
“If there is a toss-up between the two, I would say go with your full bowlers, because if it’s a good day for the bowler, he will make it count. The bowler you are making sit outside is actually an amazing wicket-taker. He picked up a five-wicket haul and was the Player of the Match,” he concluded.