Lucknow Super Giants drops a big hint at roping in Shami ahead of the mini auction for the IPL this season
Mohammed Shami might be a victim of getting the India jersey. But his chances of playing in the IPL 2026 look bright as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) drops a big hint of roping in the former India fast bowler from Sunrisers Hyderabad this season. LSG shared a fascinating post on their social media, hinting that they have completed one of the biggest trades ahead of the IPL 2026 mini auction. The franchise’s post aims at roping in former India fast bowler Mohammed Shami from Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). However, the 35-year-old fast bowler, despite being bought at Rs 10 crore, did not have a memorable outing with SRH in the last IPL as, playing nine of 14 matches in the League, the Bengal fast bowler was able to scalp only six wickets. He also conceded 75 runs in a wicketless match against Punjab Kings, which turned out the second most expensive in IPL history. It is believed that Shami’s joining LSG is likely to be an all-cash deal, with LSG paying SRH INR 10 crore, the price Shami was bought for at the IPL 2025 mega auction. Shami has not regained his spot in the India team since he played the Champions Trophy final in March. While he has been playing for Bengal in the ongoing Ranji Trophy, Shami admitted he was going through a “difficult phase” after he was not picked for the home Test series against West Indies in October and the ongoing two-Test series against South Africa. He was not considered for the five-Test tour of England this summer, immediately after he had a poor IPL season.
Rishabh returns against South Africa-A: Shami shown the door!
Rishabh Pant is returning to mainstream cricket after July. Before the series between India and South Africa, he was chosen as the captain of the India-A squad against South Africa-A for two four-day matches, scheduled to start on 30th October. So, India’s Test vice-captain will be missing the Ranji Trophy. The wicketkeeper-batsman was ruled out of the game for three months with a broken foot, which forced him to miss the Asia Cup, Test series against West Indies, and the Australia tour. South Africa Test and ODI captain Temba Bavuma will also feature in the 2nd four-day match ahead of the India-South Africa Test series. Bavuma missed out on the Pakistan tour as he was sidelined with an injury. India will also play three One-Day matches against South Africa-A, starting 13th November. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s participation in the matches has not yet been confirmed. The BCCI has not yet announced the squad for those three One-Day matches yet. The 1st four-day match will have young players from India’s Test squad, including Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal. It is also an opportunity for Rajat Patidar to impress as he is eying a Test comeback on the back of scintillating red-ball form. However, one surprising omission is of Sarfaraz Khan, who continues to be absent since the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year. While Rishabh Pant will continue to lead the squad in the 2nd match, he will have India’s Test regulars. KL Rahul, Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj, who are not in India’s T20I squad for the Australia tour, will play the 2nd match against South Africa A. Significantly, Mohammed Shami continues to be neglected by the BCCI selection committee. It seems that the selectors are not willing to bring him back to at least Test cricket. Despite proving fitness, and having shown his class in Bengal’s Ranji Trophy opening match against Uttarakhand, Mohammed Shami has not found a place in the India-A squad for South Africa-A series. He picked up 7 wickets for Bengal against Uttarakhand. Shami recently made headlines when he countered BCCI chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar’s, claims about his fitness. Agarkar said he was not fit ahead of Asia Cup. He was also not considered for the ODIs against Australia. However, his absence in the India-A series raises the question of whether selectors have planned to show him the door permanently!
