Gujarat Titans might not retain Mohammed Shami because of injury concerns: Aakash Chopra

Mohammed Shami’s Gujarat Titans are unlikely to keep him for the next Indian Premier League (IPL), according to former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra. Each franchise is allowed to keep up to six players, one of whom must be an uncapped player. It further specifies that the expenses for the first retention would be INR 18 crore, the second, INR 14 crore, and the third, INR 11 crore. The next two retentions would set you back INR 18 and INR 14 crore, respectively. For INR 4 crore, the uncapped player can be kept on.

In light of this, Chopra stated that the squad will undoubtedly keep Shubman Gill and Rashid Khan, and Sai Sudharsan—who has performed well for the team over the past few seasons—may be their third pick. With regard to the fourth pick, Chopra believes the team won’t need to spend that kind of money on a player.

He believes that players like Mohammed Shami, Kane Williamson, and David Miller might be purchased again at a lower price at the auction.

The former opener continued by saying that one of the reasons GT might decide not to keep Shami is because of his injury issues.

“The first is a simple retention in which you must hold onto Shubman Gill. It goes without saying that Rashid Khan is the second. You ought to keep him on as well. Sai Sudharsan, in my opinion, is the third player they ought to keep. Sai Sudharsan will undoubtedly fetch 8 to 10 crores if he goes to the market, and you will be able to keep him for 11 crores, Chopra stated on his YouTube channel.

“After that, they don’t have another player worth 18 crores, and if you release them, no player worth 18 crores will be sold, not even David Miller, Mohammed Shami, or Kane Williamson. I’m saying that because of injury worries, this team might decide not to keep Shami,” he continued.

Also Read: IPL 2025: Ashish Nehra, Vikram Solanki expected to continue at Gujarat Titans

Notably, in the tournament’s 2023 edition, Shami emerged as Gujarat’s top wicket-taker. An injury to his knee meant he would have to skip the 2024 edition.