Mohammed Shami’s Struggles Cast Doubt Over IPL and Test Future

Once the Purple Cap holder and a cornerstone of India’s pace attack, Mohammed Shami is enduring a forgettable IPL 2025 season—one that has not only dented Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) campaign but has also raised serious concerns about his form and future in international cricket.

Earlier this month, Shami nearly etched his name in the record books for the wrong reason, conceding 75 runs in four overs against Punjab Kings—just one short of Jofra Archer’s all-time worst. This outing, paired with a season economy of 11.23 and only six wickets in nine matches at an average of 56.17, has underscored how far off his best he currently is.

Shami’s fall in form comes after a significant right ankle injury and surgery in early 2024 that kept him out of the previous IPL. Despite a promising return in domestic cricket and a standout Champions Trophy performance (including a five-wicket haul against Bangladesh), his inconsistencies have resurfaced in the IPL. From errant lines to a drop in pace and rhythm, it’s clear something isn’t clicking.

While former fast bowler Danny Morrison offered a sympathetic take—citing age, surgery, and psychological barriers—Aakash Chopra didn’t mince words. Chopra pointed out that Shami has had sufficient time to recover and find rhythm, having played domestic cricket and international matches since late last year. His concern lies in Shami’s inability to consistently hit a good length—once his trademark—suggesting not just rust but a deeper loss of control and confidence.

Perhaps most troubling is that this slump is unfolding just ahead of India’s critical Test tour of England, a place where Shami’s skillset is typically crucial. He hasn’t played Test cricket since June 2023, and while IPL form isn’t usually the main selection criterion for red-ball cricket, this level of performance is hard to overlook.

Against Gujarat Titans on Friday, Shami looked completely off-colour again. He sprayed the ball around, was punished for poor lines by the likes of Shubman Gill and B Sai Sudharsan, and leaked 48 runs in just three overs. His struggles have mirrored SRH’s—another team all but out of playoff contention, despite still being mathematically alive.

There’s still time—four games—for Shami to try and recalibrate, to find the rhythm that once made him India’s most dependable seam bowler. But the signs so far suggest a troubling decline, one that could force selectors to reassess their plans for the England tour.

Will Shami rediscover his form in time, or is this the beginning of a transition away from the pace stalwart in India’s future plans?

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