Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has sparked a social media storm after slamming former cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar for his recent comments regarding Shami’s future in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In a bold Instagram story posted on Thursday, November 21, Shami responded sharply to Manjrekar’s suggestion that the 34-year-old’s price tag could dip in the IPL 2025 mega auction due to his recent fitness issues.
Manjrekar, during an expert analysis, pointed out Shami’s injury troubles, which sidelined him from IPL 2024 and the T20 World Cup 2024. The pacer has also played only one First-Class match in the past year and wasn’t included in India’s 18-member squad for the upcoming five-match Test series against Australia.
Shami, however, didn’t hold back, writing in Hindi, “Baba ki jay hoooooo. Thodsa gyan apne future k lie bhi bacha loo kam ayega Sanjay G? Kisi ko future janna ho to sir se mile.” (Hail the guru! Save some wisdom for your own future, Sanjay G. If anyone wants to know the future, meet this expert.)
Shami’s post has gone viral, drawing significant attention from fans and cricket enthusiasts. The seasoned pacer has been a consistent performer in the IPL, having represented teams like Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, and Gujarat Titans since his debut in 2013. Shami’s IPL career includes 127 wickets in 110 matches, with standout performances in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, including a pivotal role in Gujarat Titans’ 2022 title-winning campaign and a tournament-high 28 wickets in 2023.
Despite his remarkable form in those seasons, the Gujarat Titans did not retain Shami ahead of the 2025 mega auction but hold the option of using a Right to Match (RTM) card to secure his services. The Titans, who retained Rashid Khan, Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Shahrukh Khan, and Rahul Tewatia for ₹51 crore, will enter the auction in Jeddah on November 24–25 with a remaining purse of ₹69 crore and one RTM card for a capped player.
As the cricketing world awaits the IPL 2025 mega auction, Shami’s response has added an intriguing subplot, with fans eager to see which team invests in the veteran pacer.
