Mohammed Shami To Prioritise IPL 2025 Over Border-Gavaskar Trophy?

Mohammed Shami May Skip Border-Gavaskar Trophy for IPL 2025

Reports say Indian pacer Mohammed Shami is prioritizing his recovery. He wants to prepare for IPL 2025. He doesn’t want to rush back for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. A BCCI source said the 34-year-old fast bowler may focus on his fitness for white-ball cricket. The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and a ₹10 crore deal with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are coming up.

Shami just returned to domestic cricket after an injury. He is worried about his fitness for red-ball cricket. The veteran pacer has played nine matches in the 2024 SMAT. He is likely to play in Bengal’s Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign starting December 21.

Shami’s Recovery and Focus on Domestic Cricket

A BCCI source said that Shami wants to ease back into competitive cricket. He will focus on domestic tournaments, not Tests.

“The swelling seems to come and go. He himself is keen on playing more and more domestic cricket and hence the possibility of him once again playing Vijay Hazare Trophy for Bengal (starting December 21) looks imminent at the moment.

In his recent SMAT 2024 campaign, Shami excelled. He took 11 wickets in nine games, with an economy rate of 7.85. He also showed his batting skills. He scored 32 off 17 balls to lead Bengal to victory in their pre-quarterfinal against Chandigarh.

Why Shami May Opt Out of the Australia Series

Shami is absent from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to fitness concerns. His knee, a recurring issue, could worsen on the hard Australian ground during long red-ball spells.

“He can then bowl at least three spells and 10 overs per game,” a BCCI source told PTI on the condition of anonymity.

“Shami is at the business end of his career. What if his knee acts up badly in Australia after a long spell? He will have to field on hard grounds. He missed the last IPL due to ankle surgery.

“This time, he has a hefty Rs 10 crore deal with SRH. You can’t blame him if he wants to preserve himself for white ball format for now,” the source added.

Shami’s decision is also influenced by his future commitments. With the IPL 2025 and ICC Champions Trophy coming up, the pacer is focusing on formats where he can make a big impact.

India’s Pace Department Without Shami

With Shami absent, Bumrah will lead India’s pace attack in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Supporting Bumrah will be Mohammed Siraj, who is in great form, and rising stars Harshit Rana and Akash Deep. The Indian team management seems confident in their pace bowlers. They want to keep their edge in the high-stakes series.

Shami’s IPL and White-Ball Focus

Shami’s ₹10 crore deal with SRH for IPL 2025 marks his return to one of cricket’s most lucrative tournaments. He missed the last edition due to ankle surgery. With a big contract at stake and India’s ICC commitments, it’s logical for Shami to prioritize fitness and avoid Test cricket.

A Strategic Decision for Longevity

Shami’s likely absence from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is a blow to India’s Test team. The pacer’s focus on fitness for white-ball cricket shows a need for longevity. A player at the “business end” of his career must balance his workload and priorities. It is crucial for his future contributions to Indian cricket.