Mohammed Shami was at his blistering best on Sunday and produced a match-defining spell to help Lucknow Super Giants beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by five wickets at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. The experienced pacer dismissed Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head to finish with excellent figures of 4-0-9-2.
It was far from unique for Shami in the power play. Since IPL 2023, he has taken 25 wickets in the power play, the joint-most by an Indian, next to Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Overall, only Trent Boult is ahead with 32 wickets, which underlines how reliable Shami has been with the new ball.
It was also the most economical spell of Shami’s IPL career. His best results so far came in 2023 when he returned figures of 4-0-11-4 for Gujarat Titans against Delhi Capitals. On Sunday, it was the first time in his IPL career that Shami completed his full quota of four overs while conceding less than 10 runs.
DOMESTIC CRICKET PREPARED BY SHAMI
Shami has not played for India since last year’s Champions Trophy but has kept himself in the flow by continuing to feature in domestic cricket. He turned up in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and Ranji Trophy to stay fit for the match and maintain his fitness.
SRH vs LSG, IPL 2026: MAIN | SCORECARD
Shami stressed that staying connected to the game and maintaining fitness are key to consistent performances, adding that playing domestic cricket has helped him stay in rhythm and in the right flow.
“If you love cricket and want to play at any level, then it’s important to be in touch with the game. Look, if you want to perform well, it’s very important to stay fit. First you have to be fit, then you can show your skills,” Shami said after the match.
“For domestic cricket, my plan was to be in touch with the game so that I could be in the flow. That’s why I played all the matches,” added Shami.
After his heroic effort against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Shami will look to continue his fine form when Lucknow Super Giants take on Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens on Thursday, April 9.
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
– The end
Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
05 Apr 2026 20:58 IST
