India and Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer Mohammed Shami has opened up about his injury recovery and reaffirmed his commitment to giving his best in the ongoing IPL 2025 season, despite struggling for form with the ball.
Shami, much like his franchise SRH, has endured a difficult campaign so far, but the 36-year-old revealed that he has fully recovered from the long-standing injury that sidelined him for 14 months. He remains focused on contributing to the team as best he can.
The seasoned fast bowler has only managed to take 6 wickets across 9 matches this season and has conceded 337 runs at an economy of 11.23 — far from his usual standards. These numbers have sparked concerns over whether he is operating at full fitness.
However, in a recent interview on JioHotstar’s special series Gen Gold, Shami clarified that he has completed his recovery and is now focused entirely on performance.
“Injuries are part and parcel of a fast bowler’s life. My recovery took 14 months, and it wasn’t easy—especially given the challenges I faced during my domestic career. Regaining rhythm and the right mindset was tough. In 2023, I had a sudden breakdown, so I made it a point to play as many domestic matches as possible—ended up playing 12 or 13. That, along with the England series, helped me rebuild my confidence. When it comes to performance, I’ve always focused on giving my best,” Shami said.
After being signed by SRH for Rs 10 crore at the IPL mega-auction, expectations were high for Shami’s return. But so far, he has struggled to make a lasting impact. His most difficult outing came against Punjab Kings, where he conceded 74 runs in four overs — the second-most expensive spell in IPL history.
“SRH has completely changed my perspective—what used to be a 200-run target now feels like 300. They’ve redefined the game. As for my role, I want to be part of a team that sets new benchmarks and shifts mindsets. I feel I’ve joined a strong unit, and I’m focused on contributing my best. We’ve built a strong bowling unit as well at SRH — a solid pace attack and quality spinners to back it. Overall, our bowling is much more balanced now, and those who think SRH is only about batting are mistaken,” he added.
Shami was the Purple Cap winner in IPL 2023, claiming 28 wickets in 17 matches — the joint third-highest tally in a single edition. But that stellar form remains in the past.
With SRH set to face Delhi Capitals in a must-win fixture on May 5, Shami’s return to form could be critical — if he is selected in the Playing XI.
