Former Sunrisers Hyderbad (SRH) bowling coach Dale Steyn feels that Mohammed Shami can soon be released from the franchise as his constant fitness struggles have impacted his performance. Steyn, who worked as SRH's bowling coach from 2021 to 2024, also revealed that he wanted to have Shami in the team during that time, but the franchise roped him in when he had left them in 2025.
Steyn remarked that he would be disappointed if SRH would let go of Shami, but admitted that the latter's struggles with fitness may lead to him not being retained. He would then have to enter the auction in order to find a team interested in signing him.
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"When I was bowling coach of Sunrisers, I was like, please, can we somehow get Mohammed Shami. And the moment that I wasn't there, they got him. So, I would be disappointed if you lost him. I think fitness and form play a key role when it comes to the IPL, especially with bowlers. You want bowlers to be fit," Steyn said on Star Sports.
"You want them to be firing, and if Shami is fit and firing, he'll make any team. But if he's been struggling a little bit and he's had a couple of months off, some teams might say, you know what, there are other players that we would like to come into the team right now because they're fit. They're firing, and you would have been good a year and a half. for us, but not right now. So that release might happen. But yeah, 3 years ago when I was there, I was begging for him," he added.
Shami's woeful bowling display in IPL 2025
Shami was signed by SRH for a fee of INR 10 crore at the IPL 2025 auction, but it is safe to say that the 35-year-old underperformed big time. He played nine matches for the team during the season, picking up only six wickets and maintaining an expensive economy-rate of 11.30. It turned out to be a forgetful season for SRH as they failed to qualify for the playoffs after finishing sixth on the standings with 13 points from 14 games.
Shami linked with a trade to 2 franchises
Meanwhile, Shami has reportedly been linked to both the Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals for a potential trade with the IPL retention announcement right around the corner. According to a report by Cricbuzz, both the franchises are instersted in signing the pacer for an all-cash deal. It is now upto SRH to decide as to where will Shami end up in the next season of the tournament.