“India’s Number One Test Pacer”: Aakash Chopra Lauds Mohammed Shami’s Heroics At Centurion

Mohammed Shami picked up match figures of 8 for 107 in Centurion as India registered a historic win at the venue. They became the first Asian team to win at the ground beating the hosts by 113 runs. Shami meanwhile left an impact in the game by bowling superbly throughout the game.

Aakash Chopra while analysing the day’s play lauded Mohammed Shami for his efforts in the game. He bowled with an upright seam allowing the ball to do its bit in the air and off the pitch. He also lauded Jasprit Bumrah for his performance with the ball. His late strikes on day four meant that India had the advantage heading into day 5.

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“You look at Bumrah because he’s special. But if we equalize every condition, India’s number one Test pacer is Mohammad Shami, especially at this point in time. He asks questions with the delivery of his. He took five wickets against this team in Vishakhapatnam as well and now he took a fifer at Centurion.”

Chopra also spoke about what makes Shami a special bowler. He lauded Shami’s ability to bowl in dangerous areas with an upright seam and from close to the stumps.

Mohammed Shami Bowls In Dangerous Areas: Aakash Chopra

“We saw sideways movement from Ngidi, Rabada’s pace and saw Bumrah’s magic. But what about Shami? Shami doesn’t bowl a magic delivery like Bumrah does. But he bowls on dangerous areas consistently and releases the ball with so close to the stumps. Who bowled the most deliveries on fourth stump? Who bowled the maximum deliveries that were hitting on top of off? – It was sensational Shami.”

Speaking about Jasprit Bumrah’s rise as a Test bowler, he said that the right-arm pacer is an asset in the tea. He made his Test debut in South Africa in 2018 and inside three years has taken over 100 wickets in the format. He picked five wickets in the game.

Jasprit Bumrah Is A National Asset: Aakash Chopra

“Jasprit Bumrah is a national asset. He’s a treasure. We are so fortunate that our fast bowling unit has matured together. Bumrah took important wickets at important phases of the game. He set the tone by dismissing Dean Elgar in the very first over (first innings). Then, on Day 4 when there was a partnership building up for South Africa, he bowled a magical ball to van der Dussen. Then Keshav Maharaj came to the crease, and mind you, he bats well” concluded Chopra.

The next Test match begins from January 03 and the South African skipper Dean Elgar has hinted at possible changes in the playing XI.

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