Mohammed Shami Faces Challenges in IPL 2025 Ahead of England Tour

Shami's Struggles in IPL 2025

Mohammed Shami is experiencing a challenging season in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, raising concerns as India prepares for its Test series in England. Earlier this month, he almost set an unwanted record by allowing 75 runs in just four overs against Punjab Kings (PBKS).

This performance was just one run shy of the record for the most runs conceded in a four-over spell in IPL history, a record currently held by Jofra Archer, according to ESPNcricinfo.

While conceding runs is a common occurrence in T20 cricket, Shami has not been performing at his usual level this season.

Commentator Aakash Chopra remarked, "He's not looking good," as reported by ESPNcricinfo.

Shami's Return from Injury

Shami missed the entire IPL 2024 season due to an ankle injury and underwent foot surgery in March 2024. In the previous season, he was in exceptional form, claiming the Purple Cap with 28 wickets for Gujarat Titans (GT). However, his current statistics are concerning. In a recent match against his former team GT, he conceded 48 runs in three overs without taking a wicket. To date, he has only six wickets from nine matches, with a high bowling average of 56.17 and an economy rate of 11.23.

"After such a significant surgery, it can be psychologically challenging to return," said Danny Morrison on ESPNcricinfo's Time Out.

"You have to manage your pace, and I wonder if he is still the same bowler at 29 years old," he added.

Shami's IPL 2025 Performance Overview

Here’s a summary of Shami's performance in IPL 2025:

| Match | Overs | Wickets | Runs Conceded |

|-------|-------|---------|----------------|

| RR | 4 | 1 | 33 |

| LSG | 4 | 1 | 37 |

| DC | 4 | 0 | 31 |

| KKR | 4 | 1 | 29 |

| GT | 4 | 2 | 28 |

| PBKS | 4 | 0 | 75 |

| MI | 4 | 0 | 28 |

| CSK | 4 | 1 | 28 |

| SRH | 4 | 0 | 48 |

Chopra raised concerns about Shami's form ahead of the England tour, stating, "The upcoming series is crucial. We previously discussed how different the Border-Gavaskar Trophy might have been with Shami's presence. The question now is whether he will be fit for England and in what condition."

"In this tournament, performance is key; if you're not delivering, you will be punished. Currently, Shami's pace has decreased, and he is not consistently bowling in the right areas, which has always been his strength," he noted.

Shami's Recent International Comeback

Shami returned to competitive cricket late last year with Bengal in the Ranji Trophy and also participated in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy before rejoining the Indian team for the T20I series against England earlier this year. His standout performance came during the Champions Trophy, where he took 5/53 against Bangladesh and finished as India's leading wicket-taker with nine wickets, contributing to India's victory.

However, he has also had off days, such as the match against Pakistan in the same tournament, where he bowled five wides in his first over. In a recent match, he faced similar issues, allowing Shubman Gill to hit him for six and giving too much room to B Sai Sudharsan, resulting in a costly over.

Shami's economy rate has significantly increased, from 7.1 from 2019 to 2023 to 10.3 in IPL 2025. There are indications that Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) may release him, but many still believe in his potential, with calls for teams like Chennai IPL to consider him.

Concerns About Shami's Future

Chopra expressed concerns about Shami's ongoing struggles, stating, "It's been a while since he returned from injury, and if he is still not performing, it raises serious questions about his future."

Morrison emphasized the challenges fast bowlers face when returning from injuries, especially as they age. He noted, "Sometimes, you just have to get through your action, and if pace is down, it can affect performance."

With four matches remaining in the season, SRH still has a slim chance of making the playoffs. These games are crucial not only for the team's chances but also for Shami to demonstrate that he can still perform at a high level. While the IPL may not determine his selection for the Test squad, Shami has not played a red-ball match since June 2023, and the outlook is not promising.