Mohammed Shami’s future in Indian cricket is uncertain at the moment. Mohammed Shami, who was once a fiery force for India across the formats, has been left out of every major series this year, including the Test series in England, the ODI tour of Australia, the home Test series against the West Indies, and now the ongoing Test series against South Africa.
At the age of 35, Shami might have played his last match for India. Amidst the speculations over Shami’s India and IPL future, former South African fast bowler Dale Steyn revealed that he had strongly pushed for Shami to be brought into the team during his stints as Sunrisers Hyderabad’s bowling coach, but his requests were ignored.
Mohammed Shami’s future in doubt despite domestic cricket heroics
Shami eventually joined the Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2025 after Steyn left, but now even SRH is all but confirmed to release the Indian bowler ahead of the 2026 auction. Despite recent struggles with form and fitness, Shami has made a brilliant comeback in domestic cricket.
His performance in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2025-26 was stunning, taking 15 wickets in just three matches, proving he still has pace and skill. But injuries, age, and fitness concerns have taken their toll, making franchises wary about depending on him in the IPL.
Dale Steyn reveals he once begged SRH to sign Mohammed Shami
Shami was bought for a whopping ₹10 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction by the SRH, but last season was disappointing, with just six wickets in nine matches. Reports claimed that Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) traded Shami from SRH before the IPL 2026 auction despite concerns over his fitness and form.
Dale Steyn was quoted as saying by JioHotstar, “When I was the bowling coach of SRH, I said, ‘Please, can we somehow get Mohammed Shami?'” And the moment I wasn’t the coach, they got him. I would be disappointed if they lost him. I think fitness and form play a key role when it comes to the IPL, especially with bowlers. You want bowlers to be fit; you want them to fire.”
Dale Steyn issues a warning on Mohammed Shami
But Steyn made it clear that a fit and firing Shami can still succeed in any team, but struggling or injury-prone spells could see him sidelined. The Proteas great explained, “And if Shami is fit and firing, he will make any team. But if he’s struggling-he’s had a couple of months off-some teams would say there are other players we would like to come into the team.”
Steyn signed off by saying, “You were good a year and a half ago, but not right now. So that release might happen. But yeah, three years ago, when I was there, I was begging for him.”
Earlier, India’s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill hailed Shami as a rare pacer but avoided making any comment on his future with the national side. Gill said that only selectors would be able to explain whether Shami is part of India’s plan in the future.