Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Daniel Vettori showed his support for Mohammed Shami after his rough patch in IPL 2025. The seasoned fast bowler had a tough season, taking just six wickets in nine matches and giving away runs at an economy rate of 11.23. In a post-match press conference after a win against KKR, Vettori talked about Shami’s struggles, pointing out that it’s been a while since he played T20 cricket, which can make it hard to get back into the groove. He mentioned that the game has changed a lot since Shami last played for GT, where he won the Purple Cap.
Vettori noted, “When he finds his rhythm, he’s at his best. But this time, he just wasn’t hitting that spot like he used to. Part of that is due to the long break and how the game has evolved. Shami has worked really hard and wanted to perform well, but it just didn’t click this season. Still, I believe he can bounce back because he’s a quality bowler.”
Shami had been out of action for over a year after his ankle injury but came back strong after surgery in February 2024. Unfortunately, he then started experiencing knee pain and has been getting treatment for it. He returned to play in the domestic Ranji Trophy last year, where he picked up seven wickets in a match against Madhya Pradesh. There were talks about him making a comeback during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, but that didn’t happen.
At 34, he was set to bowl with the new ball for India in 2025 and played a key role in their Champions Trophy victory earlier this year, finishing as one of the team’s top wicket-takers.
