Mohammed Shami's India T20I career over! Asia Cup 2025 snub guaranteed

Former India National Cricket Team opening batsman Aakash Chopra has said that the non-selection of the premier pacer Mohammed Shami in the Asia Cup 2025 squad looks certain.

Aakash Chopra also shared his thoughts on whether the pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will be available for the Asia Cup 2025.

Also Read: Jofra Archer to be dropped after just 2 Tests on his long-awaited comeback

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Mohammed Shami was last seen in action in the IPL

The right-arm quick Shami was ruled out of IPL 2024 after an ankle surgery, but looking at his calibre, the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) splashed INR 10 crore on him at the IPL 2025 mega auction.

Mohammed Shami, however, failed to justify his price tag and didn't repay the faith put in him by the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). He looked extremely poor in the Indian Premier League 2025 and was even dropped from the playing XI after constant failures.

Overall, Mohammed Shami featured in 9 games for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and bagged just 6 wickets at an average of 56.16, an economy of 11.23, and a strike rate of 30.0.

Mohammed Shami last played a T20I game for the India National Cricket Team on February 2 against the England National Cricket Team at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, where he bagged three wickets. However, he mainly played the game because the team management wanted to test his fitness for the Champions Trophy 2025.

Mohammed Shami had made his T20I debut for India way back in 2014, but has surprisingly played just 25 T20I matches, picking 27 wickets at an average of 28.18, an economy rate of 8.95, and a strike rate of 18.8.

I can almost guarantee that Mohammad Shami won't be there - Aakash Chopra

Speaking on his official YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said that Jasprit Bumrah is highly likely to be a part of India's Asia Cup 2025 squad, but that will not be the case with Mohammed Shami, as the BCCI selectors are unlikely to go back to him in 20-over cricket.

"Bumrah, once again, availability will be a question. However, if he is available, because if he doesn't play the fifth Test as well, then he should be playing the Asia Cup, is what I am thinking. It will be interesting to see what sort of team is picked, but it cannot be too dissimilar to the one that was picked last time," the cricketer-turned-commentator stated.

"I can almost guarantee that Mohammad Shami won't be there in that because Shami was only being played to test his fitness and prepare him for the Champions Trophy. Now that the bus has sailed, and if he is not part of the Tests, I don't see him playing T20 cricket at this point in time," he added.

There will be a temptation to make Yashasvi or Shubman Gill part of the team - Aakash Chopra

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill are regarded as future batting superstars of Team India across formats. However, their place in India's T20I squad is uncertain at the moment.

Gill and Jaiswal possess all the skills in the world required to dominate in T20Is, but India already have Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma as openers, who have been doing well together at the top.

Talking about Gill and Jaiswal's inclusion in the Asia Cup 2025 squad, Aakash Chopra said that the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee would want to pick both the batters, but finding a room for them might be difficult. He said:

"We are reaching a very interesting phase where you will wish to make a place for Yashasvi Jaiswal and also for Shubman Gill, but with what face will we ask the previous team to be changed? They play incredibly well when we play T20Is. There will be a temptation to make Yashasvi or Shubman Gill part of the team, but will it be that straightforward?"

The Asia Cup 2025 schedule was recently released, and the competition is set to be played from September 9 to 28, with a high-octane India vs Pakistan clash on September 14.