Team India speedster Mohammed Shami registered his career-best ODI figures of 5/51 in the first one-dayer against Australia in Mohali on Friday, September 22. However, former batter Aakash Chopra said that the Indian team won’t play Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah together in the 2023 World Cup due to their obsession with the No. 8 position as well.

However, India preferred Siraj, Bumrah and all-rounder Hardik Pandya as their three pace-bowling options in the Asia Cup, whereas Shardul Thakur came at No. 8 in some of the games as well. Shami returned to the playing XI for the Mohali ODI as Siraj was rested as well.

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Speaking on his YouTube channel, he commented: “Shami grabbed the limelight on a road-like flat pitch. The delivery that got Steve Smith out was the ball of the match. It was a really good delivery. The debate was over what India needed – runs from the batter at No. 8 or wickets from Shami. But I still feel India won’t play Shami, Siraj and Bumrah together.“I feel they are still obsessed with the No. 8 position and that’s why they won’t go in with these three fast bowlers together. The third pacer is likely to be Shardul and the third spinner if needed could be Axar or Ashwin. But still, Shami was sensational.”

While Mohammed Shami claimed a memorable five-wicket haul, R Ashwin registered figures of 1/47 on his ODI return as well. Ravindra Jadeja and Bumrah also claimed a wicket each.

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“KL Rahul captained well. Thakur was expensive, still India were able to restrict the opposition. He made the right bowling changes. Wicket-keeping was 50-50. Shreyas also dropped a catch. India need to improve their fielding and catching. If they don’t do it, they will get found out somewhere,” Aakash Chopra concluded.