“That bus has sailed”: Aakash Chopra says Mohammed Shami unlikely for Asia Cup 2025

Former India cricketer and current commentator Aakash Chopra has weighed in on Mohammad Shami’s chances of making it to India’s squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra expressed serious doubts about Shami’s inclusion and also raised concerns over Jasprit Bumrah’s workload ahead of the tournament.

Chopra was responding to a question regarding India's possible squad for the Asia Cup. He mentioned that Bumrah’s participation will depend on how the final Test against England plays out, with the match scheduled to begin at The Oval on July 31.

“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,” Chopra said.

While Chopra sounded hopeful about Bumrah’s inclusion depending on fitness, he was almost certain that Shami would not be in the squad.

"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 bus has sailed, and if he is not part of Tests, I don't see him playing T20 cricket at this point in time," he added.

Shami last played for India during the Champions Trophy earlier this year, a tournament that India won. Before that, he was part of the home series against England, which was seen as a platform to test his fitness ahead of the Champions Trophy.

After the tournament, Shami turned up for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2025. However, he had a disappointing season, managing just six wickets in nine matches with an expensive economy rate of 11.23. 

The Asia Cup 2025 will be held in the UAE from September 9 to 28 and will be played in the T20 format this time. India are the defending champions, and it could be a good platform to get prepared for the T20 World Cup next year.

Stay updated with the latest cricket news, match insights, and exclusive updates at BetBarter and download the BetBarter app to start betting today!