Mohammed Shami has vented his spleen at Sanjay Manjrekar for casting aspersions on the possibility of him getting a big money in the IPL 2025 mega auction. The seasoned pacer, known for his ability and reliability, had no qualms after Manjrekar was under the impression that there would be a fall in Shami’s price, citing his injury problems.
Sanjay Manjrekar predicted that Shami, who Gujarat Titans brought for INR 6.25 crore in the IPL 2022 auction, might not fetch a higher amount this time. “Teams will surely be interested in Shami, but injuries and the time taken to recover from them are a concern,” Manjrekar said on Star Sports. “Franchises may not want to invest too much in an asset who might suffer mid-season injury and derail the team’s campaign.”
Shami responded with a sharp retort on Instagram, taunting Manjrekar’s analysis. His post read, “Baba Ki Jay Hooooo. Thoda sa gyan apne future ke liye bhi bacha lo kaam aayega Sanjay G. Kisi ko future jaana ho to sir se mile (Save some wisdom for your own future, Sanjay G. If anyone wants to know their future, consult ‘baba ji’).
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Mohammed Shami recently returned to competitive cricket after an injury layoff of long time. After his storming performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup in which he returned with the top wicket-taker’s award, the pacer met setbacks in the form of injuries one after the other. He started promisingly for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy, picking up a sensational seven-wicket haul against Madhya Pradesh, and that saw his team get their first victory of the season.
Mohammad Shami’s Instagram story. pic.twitter.com/PIruQ4oRcS
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 21, 2024
While Shami has listed a base price of INR 2 crore for the auction of IPL 2025, his international return might take a little more time. Reports suggest that the BCCI selectors are cautiously monitoring his fitness and are keen for him to play more competitive matches, including the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, before considering him for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Bengal head coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla stated, “If Shami isn’t heading to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he’ll likely be available for Bengal in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.”
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If he is to use that Ranji performance as a benchmark, then surely his form and fitness alone will tell the tale for both his valuation in the IPL and his return to the international scene. For now, Shami stays right at the top of the list.
