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Star India fast bowler Mohammed Shami is expected to see a decline in value at the next Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction, according to former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar. Notably, Shami returned to professional cricket in the current Ranji Trophy 2024–25 for Bengal after nearly a year away.
Since having surgery in February of this year to repair an Achilles tendon injury on his left leg, the speedster has been sidelined. Against Madhya Pradesh, Shami made a spectacular comeback, taking six wickets and contributing significantly to Bengal's exciting 11-run triumph. However, given his history of injuries, Manjrekar believes Shami's price tag would likely decline despite his incredible comeback.
"There will definitely be interest from teams, but given Shami's injury history—and this recent one took a significant amount of time to recover—there’s always a concern about a potential breakdown during the season. If a franchise invests heavily and then loses him mid-season, their options become limited. This concern might lead to a drop in his price tag," Manjrekar said on Star Sports.
With 28 wickets from 17 innings at an average of 18.64 and an economy of 8.03, Shami was the highest wicket-taker and the recipient of the purple cap in his final IPL in 2023. As a result, several teams will be keeping an eye on the speedster, particularly following an incredible ODI World Cup campaign in which he once again finished as the best wicket-taker with 24.
Shami to play in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
Shami has also been selected for the Bengal team for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2024–25 following a spectacular return in the Ranji Trophy. The BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) will evaluate the fast bowler's fitness in more detail during the competition, which starts on November 23.
Before flying to Australia, the national selection committee and medical experts want Shami to play a few more games, even if they are white-ball contests, to assess how his body is handling the strain of playing so many games. As a result, the speedster has advanced significantly and will soon board a plane bound for Australia.
