Aakash Chopra tells Ajit Agarkar to respect Mohammed Shami after IPL 2026 brilliance
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Former Indian player Aakash Chopra has asked for the due amount of credit for out-of-favor Indian pacer Mohammed Shami after the seamer bowled a stupendous spell against the Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday.
Mohammed Shami's absence from the Indian team since the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy has been a major area of criticism for the Indian selectors and the head coach at times. However, the criticisms heightened when Shami regained his fitness and played a full domestic season between 2025 and '26.
Currently, he has been a resolute figure for the Lucknow Super Giants, adding quality to their pace bowling unit. He bowled a terrific spell in the 10th game of the IPL, giving away just 9 runs in his four overs, while he also picked two crucial wickets of the destructive SRH opening pair.
"Are we giving Mohammed Shami enough credit?" - Aakash Chopra backs Shami with a massive question amid IPL 2026
Former Indian player Aakash Chopra questioned when Mohammed Shami would be given credit for his performances in IPL 2026. He pointed out that the LSG pacer 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 the due credit to the Indian star who has been one of their greatest bowlers in ICC tournaments.
"Are we giving Mohammed Shami enough credit, and when will we actually give him credit? It's a big question. Why are we not celebrating him? I am the same person who was saying that the selectors have to choose, and if they are not selecting, they might have seen him, his fitness, and whatever," he said.
Aakash Chopra highlights Mohammed Shami's penetrative spell
Aakash Chopra highlighted that the veteran seamer has bowled a stunning penetrative spell during the recent fixture between Sunrisers Hyderabad and the Lucknow Super Giants.
"I had also said that everyone has to stand up and take notice if he does it in the IPL. Then you cannot say that the opposing team's standard wasn't that good. This is the most competitive league in the world.
"In such a scenario, he bowled four overs for just nine runs and two wickets, including 18 dot balls, in an afternoon game against the SunRisers Hyderabad," he observed. The commentator also added that he dismissed the two finest batters in the SRH unit despite the track not being friendly for seamers.
"I know Jacob Duffy bowled very well in the first match, but this was an afternoon game. There is no help at all for fast bowlers in an afternoon game, and there was no help for him as well," Chopra elaborated.
"He has worked on his slower one as well" - Aakash Chopra
In the same video that was posted on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra praised Mohammed Shami for dismissing SRH openers, Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, for the respective scores of 0 and 7. He was dismissed with slower balls.
"The plan was absolutely perfect, that he would bowl full, bring the ball in, and get very close to the legs, almost yorkers. He said he wouldn't give them room. Then he bowled slower ones far from both of them. So the plan was very clear," he said.
Analyzing the situation further, he added that Shami, who just bowls one type of slower ball, rolling his fingers over the ball, does not have a knuckleball or a back-of-the-hand slower ball. Chopra pointed out that he has an upgraded version of the slower ball.
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