Mohammed Shami’s return to the IPL hasn't gone as planned, and Cheteshwar Pujara is concerned for his former Indian teammate over his fitness. Mohammad Shami, who was picked up by Sunrisers Hyderabad for a whopping INR 10 crore after being released by Gujarat Titans, has managed just 5 wickets in 7 matches in the ongoing IPL 2025.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad are also struggling to deliver in the ongoing season, sitting at the ninth spot with only two wins from seven games so far in the tournament. Well, Cheteshwar Pujara feels Shami is struggling not just for form but also with his fitness.
The veteran Indian batter also pointed out that Shami hasn't been playing a lot of international cricket lately, and he also came back from an injury, and is also getting a little old, and that’s when a player needs to be at his best fitness to match the current pace of the T20 game.
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Shami pointed out that Mohammed Shami is not at his peak in terms of his fitness, which is a must to bowl consistently in flat conditions and deliver yorkers at will, apart from the skills. He noted that Shami is now battling both expectations and his own body in the ongoing IPL 2025.
The seasoned Indian batter believes that Shami’s limited international outings have exposed his fitness limitations, which are beginning to show in the fast-paced and high-pressure T20 format. Notably, Shami made a comeback during the recent England tour ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 after more than twelve months due to a couple of injuries.
Fitness wasn't Mohammed Shami's strength: Cheteshwar Pujara
Cheteshwar Pujara was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo, “If your fitness is not at its peak, then you will always struggle to keep up with the pace of the game and someone like him who relies heavily on his skills. I'm not saying he's not the fittest bowler, but his fitness has never been at its prime. He has worked hard on his fitness; he has gotten better, but it wasn't his strength.
And now, because his fitness wasn't his strength, I feel that he's struggling a bit with his bowling because in the T20 format, it's not just about skills; it's also about how fit you are as a player, and that allows you to bowl those good Yorkers.”
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I'm sure Mohammed Shami uses his brain: Pujara
Pujara believes that Mohammed Shami is a smart bowler, but he’s struggled to make an impact this season on flat pitches. He will be seen in action on April 23 when SRH will host Mumbai Indians in their next IPL 2025 clash at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
Pujara signed off by saying, “Then you need to be smart, and I'm sure Shami uses his brain, but at the same time, if you're playing on a flat pitch, you're running out of options. That's where, if you are fit, you can go that extra mile and try and get the best batsman in trouble. So that is something that he hasn't been able to do this season.”
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