Mohammed Shami came very close to breaking an IPL record earlier this month. that of a game’s most costly four-over stretch. He was only one run short of Jofra Archer’s 76 for Rajasthan Royals (RR) against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) when he gave up 75 against Punjab Kings (PBKS). You do go for runs in T20 cricket, but Mohammed Shami hasn’t shown himself in the 2025 Indian Premier League, and in light of India’s Test tour of England shortly after the IPL, Aakash Chopra stated that “he’s not looking good” at the moment.
After suffering an ankle injury and undergoing surgery on his right foot in March 2024, Shami was unable to participate in the most recent IPL. He took 28 wickets for the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 2023 Indian Premier League, earning him the Purple Cap. He went 3-0-48-0 versus GT on Friday night. His season total now stands at six wickets from nine games with an economy rate of 11.23 and an average of 56.17. Mohammed Shami bad run with the ball, along with a lot of other factors, has contributed to SRH’s disappointing season.
“You’ve had a big surgery like that, I think psychologically for a start [it gets you down],” Danny Morrison stated on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out following SRH’s most recent loss, which put them in danger of being eliminated. “After that, you must return and pace yourself. I just wonder: is he really 29 years old anymore? All of those things are therefore working against you.
Chopra didn’t choose to be nice, even if Morrison did.
It’s not as if he recovered from an injury last week or last month, so that’s a major concern there. It is now May, and he began playing domestic cricket last year,” Chopra remarked. “In between, he participated in an ICC event [Champions Trophy].” He has a lot of gaming experience. There is a considerable doubt as to what will happen next if he is still off the boil and that is related to the injury, which we all assume it is.
“[SRH] is obviously a single story. The tour to England is the other. We were all talking about how [at the] Border-Gavaskar Trophy, [Jasprit] Bumrah was by himself, there was no Mohammed Shami, and how things would have turned out if there had been Mohammed Shami. The question is, however, whether Shami will exist [in England]. What sort of Mohammed Shami is that?
“It doesn’t matter who you are in this competition. You will be sent to the dry cleaners if you fail to deliver the merchandise. Second, there aren’t enough balls being bowled in the same region, which is what I observe with Mohammed Shami at the moment.
That was always Mohammed Shami. His only strength is that, and it’s amazing.”
“He may just be subtly guilty – and it could be anyone – that if I am not just getting through the crease, pace has come down – sure, all those things – whether you are wholeheartedly getting through your action”- Shami.
For the record, Mohammed Shami made his comeback to competitive cricket in the Ranji Trophy towards the end of last year. He also played in the T20I series against England at home in January and February after being a member of Bengal’s Syed Mushtaq Ali (T20) and Vijay Hazare Trophy (50-over) squads. Taking 5 for 53 against Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy, where he was India’s top wicket-taker with nine, was the pinnacle of all of this. His side won the tournament.
Shami opened the bowling against Pakistan in that same Champions Trophy, hitting five wides in the opening over. He also had bad lines on Friday night. He offered B Sai Sudharsan width by drifting into Shubman Gill’s pads, where he was flicked for six. He even bowled a 20-run over in the third GT innings.
Recalling that match against Pakistan, in which he bowled five wides in the opening over—well, that was 45 days ago, or perhaps even more, two months ago [on February 23]—if he’s still struggling to get the ball in the right spot… because you can drive him for a four or cut him if you want, but he rarely bowls ones that you’re flicking for a six, so you’re content to face the [next] ball. He doesn’t offer you much separation, by the way. He’s not looking good, then,” Chopra remarked.
When it comes to coming back from an injury when age, form, and fitness are not on your side, Morrison was also worried and gave an insight into the thinking of a fast bowler.
“Sometimes, there’s a saying, you just put it there rather than you bowl it,” he stated. “And be sure to follow through, give the crease a good presentation, and all that kind of stuff. He can be quietly guilty—and anyone could be—that if I’m not just getting through the crease, the speed has slowed down. Yes, all those things, regardless of how completely you are completing your motion.”
There are four games left for SRH. They are near the playoffs, but not mathematically out of the running yet. They have four more games to improve their season, and Mohammed Shami has four more games to prove he is still capable. Mohammed Shami hasn’t played Test cricket since June 2023, but the IPL shouldn’t be the basis for Test selection. The phrase “he’s not looking good” is repeated.
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