IPL 2026 Make-or-Break For Mohammed Shami? LSG Pacer Eyes Team India Comeback Ahead of England Tour

13

Star Indian pacer Mohammed Shami wowed everyone during a Lucknow Super Giants net session, bowling at his fastest pace and even astounding ex-Australia coach Justin Langer. Close to the stumps, bowling coach B. Arun threw the ball to Shami, who started his run-up and, hardly holding back, he delivered a fast ball that knocked the stumps down with great power.

Mohammed Shami Wows in LSG Nets

At 35, Shamis’ last India appearance was in the 2025 Champions Trophy; however, his desire for a return was quite noticeable in the nets, where his powerful yorkers kept breaking the stumps. Following the session, Langer pointed Shami out and praised him in the team huddle, quoting, Your yorker, that yorker, is breathtaking, in a video shared by the Lucknow Super Giants.

As the bowling coach, Arun, who was primarily responsible for developing India’s pace bowlers, was instrumental in India’s great overseas Test wins. Shami was a major factor in those victories.

Mohammed Shami Stats in Domestic Cricket

Before the IPL 2026,  pacer star Mohammed Shami has given an excellent showing in domestic cricket. Shami bagged 16 wickets in seven Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches at a great bowling average of 14.93. He recorded an economy rate of 8.90 and, at the same time, managed two four-wicket hauls, positioning himself as the bowler with the third-best average among players with at least 16 wickets in the season. He has now extended this streak into the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he has been able to pick up eight wickets in four matches at an average of 23.75 and an economy rate of 5.53. His streak is incredible, as he has not been wicket-less for the last 10 white-ball matches and in seven of those games, he has taken at least two wickets.

The Lucknow Super Giants will kick off their IPL 2026 campaign at home, facing the Delhi Capitals on April 1 at the Ekana Stadium, Lucknow in their season opener.