Shami Claps Back at Manjrekar’s Auction Prediction Amid IPL Buzz

Indian pacer Mohammed Shami was visibly displeased with former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar’s remarks about his potential price drop in the IPL 2025 mega auction. Despite being one of the most reliable fast bowlers in Indian cricket, Shami responded sharply to Manjrekar’s comments, where the latter expressed doubts about the bowler fetching more than the INR 6.25 crore he was bought for by the Gujarat Titans in the 2022 auction.

"There will definitely be interest from teams, but given Shami's injury history — and this recent one took a significant amount of time to recover — there's always a concern about a potential breakdown during the season," Sanjay Manjrekar said.

"If a franchise invests heavily and then loses him mid-season, their options become limited. This concern might lead to a drop in his price tag."

In response, Shami took to Instagram, mocking Manjrekar with a cryptic post. He sarcastically suggested that Manjrekar save some of his “wisdom” for his own future and referred to him as "baba ji," advising those curious about their futures to consult him instead. 

Shami’s return to competitive cricket has been under scrutiny. After being sidelined for an extended period due to injuries, he recently played a Ranji Trophy game for Bengal against Madhya Pradesh, where he delivered a stellar performance, claiming seven wickets across the match. This outing marked Bengal's first win of the season and showcased Shami’s fitness progress, much to the relief of BCCI selectors.

Despite his impressive comeback, the BCCI is treading cautiously with Shami’s reintegration into international cricket. Reports suggest that he could be considered for the second half of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, provided he proves his match fitness through additional competitive games, such as the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Bengal’s head coach, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, indicated that Shami would likely be available for the state team if he isn’t selected for the Border-Gavaskar series.

Meanwhile, Shami has listed his base price at INR 2 crore for the IPL 2025 auction. With a track record of being a game-changer in the league, fans and teams alike will be watching closely to see how the seasoned pacer performs and whether he can silence his critics once again.