Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has predicted that Mohammed Shami’s price tag in the upcoming IPL mega auction may decrease due to his injury history. Shami, who recently returned to competitive cricket after a year-long absence due to a knee injury, is set to play for Bengal in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Despite setting his base price at INR 2 crore for the auction, Manjrekar believes that IPL franchises might be cautious about investing heavily in the fast bowler.
Shami has not played international cricket since the 2023 ODI World Cup final and it is uncertain if he will be part of the squad for the upcoming Tests against Australia. Manjrekar highlighted the concern of potential breakdowns during the season due to Shami’s injury history, which could lead to a decrease in his price tag at the auction.
The IPL mega auction is scheduled to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on November 24 and 25, where Shami will be available for bidding after not being retained by Gujarat Titans. Despite his impressive performance in the Ranji Trophy match for Bengal, where he took seven wickets and scored 37 runs, concerns remain about his fitness and durability.
Shami’s childhood coach has expressed hope for his inclusion in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, emphasizing the importance of experienced bowlers like Shami in the Indian bowling lineup. With only Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj as the mainstays in the pace department, Shami’s return to form and fitness could be crucial for India’s success in the upcoming series.
