NEW DELHI: Former South African pace great Dale Steyn has joined the ongoing debate surrounding Mohammed Shami's future, adding a new dimension regarding the pacer's prospects in the IPL, after reports claimed that Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals have shown interest in him.
Speaking on JioHotstar during the lunch break of the first India–South Africa Test in Kolkata, Steyn revealed that during his stint as Sunrisers Hyderabad's bowling coach, he had once personally "begged" for Shami's inclusion in the team - a request that was ultimately turned down at the time.
"When I was the bowling coach of SRH, I said 'please, can we somehow get Mohammed Shami?' And the moment I wasn't the coach, they got him," Steyn said, adding, "I would be disappointed if they lost him."
Steyn stressed that if Shami is fit and performing at his best, he can earn a spot in any IPL team. But if he's struggling or not in peak form, franchises may choose other players.
"Fitness and form play a key role in the IPL, especially with bowlers. You want bowlers to be fit, you want them to fire," Steyn explained.
"If Shami is fit and firing, he will make any team. But if he's struggling... teams would say there are other players. You were good a year and a half ago, but not right now. That release might happen."
Shami, who was signed by SRH for Rs 10 crore at the previous mega auction in Jeddah, endured a below-par season last year - managing just six wickets at an average of 56.17 and an economy rate of 11.23, well below his career benchmarks of 28.19 and 8.63 respectively.
Across 119 IPL matches, the veteran pacer has bagged 133 wickets, with his most successful stint coming for Gujarat Titans in 2022 and 2023, where he picked up a combined 48 wickets (20 and 28 respectively). He missed the entire IPL 2024 campaign due to injury.
