"An immature response" - Fans slam Mohammed Shami for taking a dig at Sanjay Manjrekar ahead of IPL 2025 mega auction
Veteran Indian seamer Mohammed Shami seemed unimpressed by former batter Sanjay Manjrekar's prediction of his 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction price. Manjrekar, on Star Sports' show 'Game Plan', recently suggested that Shami could see a dip in his IPL salary owing to his injury concerns.
The cricketer-turned-commentator opined that while Shami is a proven campaigner, his recent injury hiatus could worry many IPL franchises. Manjrekar said:
"He (Shami) is a big-match player and he has got class. But I see the price tag coming down a little bit because of the injury concerns. You wonder because it has been such a long sort of comeback to fitness that most franchises would be slightly wary despite Shami's ability."
Shami didn't seem too pleased by Manjrekar's assessment and responded with a sarcastic Instagram story, writing:
"Baba Ki Jay Hooooo. Thoda sa gyan apne futue ke liye bhi bacha lo kaam ayeaga Sanjy G. Kisi ko futue janna ho to sir se mile."
Several fans opined that Mohammed Shami overreacted and did not need to respond to Sanjay Manjrekar in such an 'unprofessional' manner.
Here are some of the top social media reactions to the star fast bowler's remarks:
Certain fans emphasized that Manjrekar is entitled to his opinion and that players should refrain from responding to every comment.
"People can't even give opinion these days??? Players give replies to Every single opinion through stories. Pathetic that they can't even take views against them. Pathetic," wrote a fan.
"'Potential' drop. What has triggered him so much? People predict, and they're doing it for every player. No need to overreact," commented another.
"This is embarrassing by Shami," chimed in yet another.
It is worth mentioning that Mohammed Shami was signed by Gujarat Titans (GT) for ₹6.25 crore in 2022. He picked up 48 wickets across 33 matches during his stint with the team.
The 34-year-old was ruled out of IPL 2024 due to an ankle injury and was released by the franchise ahead of the upcoming mega auction.
Mohammed Shami returned to competitive cricket during the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024-25
After being on the sidelines for almost a year, Mohammed Shami made his much-awaited return to competitive cricket in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy. The seasoned campaigner represented Bengal in their clash against Madhya Pradesh earlier this year.
Shami made a fantastic comeback, picking up seven wickets across two innings. Bengal ultimately secured a crucial 11-run win in the encounter. He is also part of the Bengal squad for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
The ace bowler was last seen in Indian colors during the 2023 ODI World Cup. He enjoyed an imperious run in the showpiece event, finishing as the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 24 wickets from just seven innings.