Mohammed Shami responds to Sanjay Manjrekar's 'IPL price drop' statement
Indian cricketer Mohammad Shami has hit back at former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar's recent comments on his Indian Premier League (IPL) price tag. Manjrekar had implied Shami's value could fall due to his injury history and absence of competitive cricket in the last year. "There will definitely be interest from teams, but given Shami's injury history, there's always a concern about a potential breakdown during the season," Manjrekar said on Star Sports.
Shami's Instagram response to Manjrekar's comments
Shami replied to Manjrekar's remarks through an Instagram story, taking a subtle dig at the former cricketer. The Indian pacer sarcastically asked people to meet Manjrekar if they wanted insights into their future. "Baba ki jai hoooooo. Thoda sa gyan apne future k lie bhi bacha loo kaam ayega Sanjay G? Kisi ko future janna ho to sir se mile," Shami wrote. Notably, this isn't the first time Manjrekar has found himself in controversies with Indian cricket stars.
Shami's injury and recovery journey
Shami last played for India in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, following which he was ruled out with an Achilles' heel injury. Although he underwent successful surgery and is still in rehabilitation, his recovery has been slower than expected. This resulted in his omission from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy squad. However, Shami recently returned to the Ranji Trophy for Bengal and is expected to join the Indian team in Australia ahead of the second Test.
Shami's performance in the Ranji Trophy
Notably, Shami made his return to competitive cricket last week, playing the fifth-round Ranji Trophy match for Bengal against Madhya Pradesh. He took seven wickets and scored a crucial 37 runs, leading Bengal to a narrow 11-run victory. Throughout the match, Shami consistently bowled at speeds between 130-135km/h. His childhood coach Mohammed Badruddin has expressed hope that Shami will be selected for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
