ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Mohammed Shami declared 'far from ready,' bad news emerges on Jasprit Bumrah's fitness

Former India National Cricket Team player Aakash Chopra has expressed his concerns over the fast bowlers of India for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He stressed that there is no positive news related to Jasprit Bumrah and also Mohammed Shami is far away from his best.

India National Cricket Team are mulling over the fitness of Jasprit Bumrah ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The premier fast bowler recently went to Bengaluru for scans and was ruled out of the ODIs against the England National Cricket Team.

India named just three fast bowlers in the squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

The clarity related to Jasprit Bumrah is likely to come out soon but so far nothing looks positive. On the other hand, Mohammed Shami recently made his return to the India National Cricket Team after a long injury break in the T20I series against the England National Cricket Team.

Mohammed Shami played just two games in the series and picked three wickets, all of which came in the last match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The premier fast bowler didn't look at his best as he was before his injury, and it raised concerns as well.

The third pacer who is in the Indian squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is Arshdeep Singh. The fast bowler has been a great force in the T20Is but is inexperienced in ODIs as he has played just 8 games in the format and isn't that reliable even though he has been in the great touch.

Four fast bowlers should have 100 percent been there in the Champions Trophy squad - Aakash Chopra

While talking about the Indian pacers, Aakash Chopra revealed that he hasn't heard great news about Jasprit Bumrah and stressed that India should've picked four fast bowlers for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. While highlighting Mohammed Shami's poor rhythm, he said:

"I am not hearing great news about Bumrah's fitness. However, I won't believe in hearsay, and won't share what I heard either,"

"Four fast bowlers should have 100 percent been there (in the Champions Trophy squad) because whatever we have seen of Mohammed Shami, he did take three wickets in the last match for sure and bowled decently, but he is far from ready," Aakash Chopra said in a video posted on his youtube channel.

I feel Siraj will go to the Champions Trophy - Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra strongly believes that India will be making an addition to the squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He feels that Mohammed Siraj will be included in the team. He added:

"I feel a fast bowler will get added. In whose place he will be, we shall find out. I feel Siraj will go to the Champions Trophy."

In what was the biggest surprise, Mohammed Siraj, who was the No.1 ranked ODI bowler a few months back, was dropped from the squad. This came as a massive development as captain Rohit Sharma mentioned that the fast bowler becomes ineffective with old ball.