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Speaking exclusively on JioHotstar’s special series “Gen Gold”, Sunrisers Hyderabad’s premier seamer Mohammed Shami shared his thoughts on recovering from a knee injury, his experience with the franchise, the strength of their bowling attack, the lifting of the saliva ban, and more.
On his recovery from knee injury:
“Injuries are part and parcel of a fast bowler’s life. My recovery took 14 months, and it wasn’t easy—especially given the challenges I faced during my domestic career. Regaining rhythm and the right mindset was tough. In 2023, I had a sudden breakdown, so I made it a point to play as many domestic matches as possible—ended up playing 12 or 13. That, along with the England series, helped me rebuild my confidence. When it comes to performance, I’ve always focused on giving my best.”
On his experience playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad:
“SRH has completely changed my perspective—what used to be a 200-run target now feels like 300. They’ve redefined the game. As for my role, I want to be part of a team that sets new benchmarks and shifts mindsets. I feel I’ve joined a strong unit, and I’m focused on contributing my best. We’ve built a strong bowling unit as well at SRH — a solid pace attack and quality spinners to back it. Overall, our bowling is much more balanced now, and those who think SRH is only about batting are mistaken.”
On TATA IPL as a platform for youngsters to showcase their talent:
“TATA IPL is a great platform for youngsters to showcase their character, potential, and skills. It’s encouraging to see them step up — it shows how bright the future of Indian cricket really is. There’s no shortage of talent coming through this league.”
On BCCI’s amendment in rules bringing in much-needed balance back in favour of bowlers:
“For a long time, the rules have favoured batters — but now, things are finally shifting a bit. After COVID, the saliva ban made it tough to reverse the ball, but with that lifted, bowlers can finally get some swing back. Also, being able to change a wet ball is a big plus — a dry ball gives better grip and life, especially in tough conditions.”
On Pat Cummins’ captaincy:
“Calmness is key in leadership. A calm captain can bring out the best in his players. Knowing each player’s potential is crucial, and Pat Cummins does that exceptionally well. Having captained for years, he has the experience, and managing both international and young players comes naturally to him.”
Catch Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals at 7:30 PM today, as teams race to the TATA IPL play-offs, live and exclusive on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network
