Australian ace pacer Mitchell Starc achieves a monumental record on day one of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) Final at Lord's. The 36-year-old left-arm quick snapped two quick wickets at the end of the day's play to reduce South Africa to 43-4 at stumps. Starc accounted for the dismissals of Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton to become the highest wicket-taker in an ICC Final. Starc has a tally of 11 wickets so far in the ICC Finals, surpassing India's Mohammed Shami, who has 10 wickets.

Furthermore, he also becomes the second-highest wicket-taker in ICC Knockout games, being at par with the legendary pace bowling sensation Glenn McGrath. He now needs two more wickets to better his tally and go past Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan (23), who currently claims the top spot. 

See also: WATCH: Mitchell Starc's ripper gets Aiden Markram for duck in SA vs AUS WTC Final

Starc overshadows Shami to become the highest wicket-taker in ICC Finals

Mitchell Starc overtakes Mohammed Shami for the most wickets in major men's ICC tournament finals. 🤯🔥#Cricket #Starc #Shami #WTC pic.twitter.com/zN3ef466wJ

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) June 12, 2025

The New South Wales-born pacer has been an exceptional performer for Australia across all formats. Starc is a genuine match-winner and has a proven track record of delivering in big matches. The pacer has 707 wickets (and counting) in all formats, with a major chunk of them (384) coming from Test cricket. Starc can be equally devastating with the new ball as well as the old ball. With his express pace and naturally tall height, Starc can not only trouble the batters with lateral movement, but can also cause a few hiccups with his short-pitched deliveries. 

After being dismissed rather prematurely for 212 (despite a promising stand between Smith and Webster), the Aussie quicks launched a successful late assault to leave South Africa reeling by the end of day one. Starc wreaked havoc with the ball by dismissing Markram through the gate and later followed it up by delivering a delightful ball to Rickelton, getting him caught in the slips. 

Away from all the hustling and bustling, Mohammed Shami found some moments to spend with his family. In the backyard, the ace pacer had spent some quality time with a little cricket. During this time, the pacer was seen blowing with his natural smooth run-up and with the bat as well.

Along with hitting the deck with the ball, the star cricketer did not hesitate to play some strokes as well. The bowler himself posted a video capturing the moments, with a heartwarming caption, "A day well spent on the field with family!"

His followers poured love into the comment section with several heartfelt messages. Fans even cheered him to make a comeback in the Team India jersey as well. A net user commented on Shami's Instagram post, "It's time for a comeback in test matches, Shami bhai."

Read More: VPL 2025, Match 10: NECO Master Blaster vs Orange Tigers Full Match Highlights

Shami has a good track record and could bring valuable experience into the young squad

India is set to play a 5-match Test series against England on their home soil from June 20. BCCI's decision to snub Shami from this crucial Test series left many fans stunned. Because Jasprit Bumrah may not be available for all five matches, and secondly, the experience Shami could offer to a newly shaped team without Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. 

In the past, the Uttar Pradesh-born pacer claimed an impressive number of wickets against England. Mohammed Shami has played 64 Test matches for India, featuring in 122 innings to claim 229 wickets at an average of 27.71. Throughout his decorated Test career, he has bagged 12 four-wicket figures and 6 five-wicket hauls so far. 

Watch the video here

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by MOHAMMAD SHAMI (@mdshami.11)

The cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) is never short of talent. Right from its inception in 2008, all the way to the current 2025 season, the high-octane league has seen the birth of ground-breaking cricketing talent. Whilst there may be no shortage of talent, there are a few unfortunate souls who, despite their prolific stature and hefty price tags, fail to live up to the standards.

In this season alone, we have seen a few flop performances from some of the very best in the business. In this article, we showcase the top five high-profile cricketers who failed to live up to expectations in IPL 2025.

See also: WATCH: Viral moment when Shashank Singh predicted PBKS will end up in top 2 before start of IPL 2025

Rishabh Pant (₹27 crore, Lucknow Super Giants)

Perhaps the most shocking disappointment of all was to see Rishab Pant from LSG falter big time this season. Last year, he was acquired by LSG for a whopping ₹27 crore, making him the most expensive purchase in the history of IPL. Many of his fans, including Sanjeeev Goenka, founder of LSG, had high hopes from him. But contrary to their assumptions, Pant failed to deliver big. As the most expensive player in IPL history, Pant's performance was underwhelming. Pant could only manage 106 runs in seven innings, with an awful average of 15.14 and a strike rate below 100, significantly below expectations. 

Venkatesh Iyer (₹23.75 crore, Kolkata Knight Riders)

Just like Pant, Venkatesh Iyer from KKR also etched his name in the record books by becoming the second-most expensive player in the IPL mega-auction last year. But as fate would have it, Iyer succumbed to the burden of his heavy price tag. In six innings, Iyer managed only 135 runs with a solitary fifty. His highest score was 52* in the 2024 final, but this season, his performances have been inconsistent and disappointing. His score of 7 against DC on April 29th marked his fourth single-digit score, whereas against GT in a must-win fixture, Iyer could only score 14 (19), failing to hit a boundary and struggling to rotate the strike. His inconsistency and lack of impact were major disappointments for KKR this season as the tall all-rounder struggled to justify his hefty price tag. 

Mohammed Shami (₹10 crore, Sunrisers Hyderabad)

The ace Indian speedster's performance has been another source of disappointment for the fans. Being acquired by SRH for a staggering ₹10 crore, Mohammed Shami's performance in IPL 2025 has significantly fallen short of expectations, causing concern among both fans and experts. As a member of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Shami's difficulties have been apparent throughout the season. Across nine matches, Shami could only muster six wickets under his tally, with an alarming economy rate of 11.23. His figures include a particularly dismal performance against Punjab Kings, where he conceded 75 runs in four overs—the most expensive bowling spell by an Indian in IPL history. Subsequently, he also went on to claim an unwanted record of having the second-highest bowling figures in IPL history.

Liam Livingstone (₹8.75 crore, Royal Challengers Bangalore)

England's Liam Livingstone serves as yet another example of how expensive buys can lead franchises to inevitable catastrophes. Although RCB has stormed into the playoffs in blazing fashion, Livingstone's paltry contribution both with the bat and the ball has caught the ire of many fans and cricketing pundits alike. Livingstone has managed only 87 runs in seven matches, averaging 17.40 with a strike rate of 127.94. His sole highlight was a half-century against the Gujarat Titans, but he failed to cross the 20-run mark in subsequent innings. Former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwary cited Livingstone's poor shot selection and lack of game awareness as the key reasons for his poor show this season. He noted that Livingstone has faced more than 10 deliveries in an innings only once this season, highlighting his inability to build and anchor the innings progressively.

Glenn Maxwell (₹4.2 crore, Royal Challengers Bangalore) 

Maxwell has been a serious contender across several IPL seasons in the past decade. But his performance in the ongoing IPL edition has been nothing short of disappointing. He has clearly had a season to forget, with only 48 runs in seven innings and four wickets at an economy rate of 8.46. His inability to contribute significantly with both bat and ball was a concern for RCB. Batting has surfaced as the primary source of concern for the Australian southpaw. He started his journey poorly this season by registering a golden duck against GT in the tournament opener, marking his 19th duck in the cash-rich league. And to further compound his woes, Maxwell suffered a fractured finger during training in early May, ruling him out for the remainder of the IPL 2025 season. This injury has ended a season that many had hoped would mark a resurgence for the 36-year-old all-rounder.

On Saturday (May 24), the Men’s Selection Committee selected an 18-member Indian senior men’s Test squad for the upcoming England tour, where they will play a five-match Test series. Here, we are going through the unselected India XI for the England tour. 

India will start their 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship journey with the five-match Test series in England. Due to the recent retirement of Test captain Rohit Sharma and legendary cricketer Virat Kohli, along with legendary off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, India have some new Test faces along with special comebacks. 

India tour of England 2025: Key Indian squad facts

Sai Sudharsan and Arshdeep Singh are the new faces in Indian Test cricket, while Karun Nair and Shardul Thakur have returned to the Test squad. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill has been selected as the new Test captain, while Rishabh Pant is set to play his deputy role in the red-ball format.

India tour of England 2025: Top unselected Indian players

Meanwhile, we are missing some strong names in the Indian Test squad for the upcoming England tour. Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara are the two strong names who could take important responsibilities with their strong experiences, especially when we miss Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. 

Shreyas Iyer, who has played 14 Tests, is also an important name on the missing list. His last Test was the 2024 Visakhapatnam Test against England. 

See Also: IND vs ENG: Why Shreyas Iyer was not selected in India’s Test squad for England tour?

Two-Test experienced Ishan Kishan is another strong name to miss the England tour, along with Ruturaj Gaikwad, who is yet to make his Test debut. Sarfaraz Khan, who made his Test debut during the England tour of India 2024-25 season and has played six Tests, has been dropped from the Test squad.  

Anshul Kamboj is a special pace-bowling all-rounder, who was in the news in November 2024 after becoming the third Ranji Trophy bowler to record a 10-wicket haul in an innings. The 24-year-old has huge potential. Axar Patel, with 14-Test experience, is also missing from the Test squad.

Among the pacers, we are missing Khaleel Ahmed and Harshit Rana, along with the veteran Mohammed Shami, whose fitness is reportedly still a concern for Test cricket. Khaleel is yet to make his Test debut, while Harshit has played two Tests after making his debut during India's tour of Australia last season.  

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Sarfaraz Khan, Anshul Kamboj, Harshit Rana, and Khaleel Ahmed are set to travel to England earlier in the Test series as a part of the India A squad. So, any of them can join the Indian Test squad during the upcoming England tour. 

Unselected India XI vs England

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Shreyas Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Sarfaraz Khan, Axar Patel, Anshul Kamboj, Mohammed Shami, Harshit Rana, Khaleel Ahmed 

Team India star Mohammed Shami pointed out a wrong report through his official Instagram story. The report was about Shami's probable retirement from the Test setup, which he claimed is fake. 

Back-to-back retirements from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from Tests amazed the entire cricket world. The exit of two experienced cricketers also created some speculation on the internet; some of the cricket fans even started to speculate about the other active senior players' future in the Test squad, including Mohammed Shami, currently 34. 

In a media report that claimed that the pacer can bid adieu to the longest format of the game, quotations from a BCCI source. Where it is claimed, "Shami isn't an automatic pick. It's been months since he has come back to international cricket, but he has barely been in rhythm. While IPL performances are not usually considered while picking India teams, Shami is struggling to finish his run-up, and the ball is not carrying to the wicketkeeper like it used to before his Achilles tendon injury after the 2023 ODI World Cup. He invariably goes back to the dressing room after a short spell for recovery."

Read More: India likely squad for England Tests ft Arshdeep Singh

This is who Mohammed Shami replies 

From here the speculations about the right-arm fast bowler's probable retirement had ignited. Shami shared that article in his Instagram story and said, "Very well done, Maharaj. Apne job ke din bhi gin loo, kitna adieu hai badme dekh le. Hamara ap jaise ne satyiuanash kar diya future ka. Kabi to accha bol liya kare. Aaj ki sabse kharab story, sorry. (Very well done, sir. Even count your remaining job days, then count the adieu. People like you ruin our future. Try to say something good. Worst story of the day, sorry)."

After the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, speculations started to roam around Mohammed Shami. The experienced pacer is currently doubtful for India's upcoming tour to England. After the retirement of Sharma and Kohli from the Tests, team India will lack some much-required experience, while Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul, and Jasprit Bumrah can find their spots in the mix as seasoned players.

An Achilles tendon injury caused Shami heavy pain and sidelined him for the entire 2024 season after a mind-blowing performance in the 2023 ICC T20I World Cup. He made his return to the international circuit through the T20I series against England in February 2025. But Shami is not the same as he used to be.

He struggled to find his rhythm; the ball hardly carried to the keeper. Though IPL performances are not considered as the parameter for international duties, still the Pacers' IPL 2025 performance has remained below the bar. In IPL 2025, the bowler has claimed only 6 wickets in 9 matches and concedes an 11.23 economy rate.

Read More: IPL 2025: Sunil Gavaskar emotional urge to BCCI after tragic Pahalgam attack

Shami is no more a automatic choice to pick

Thus, some reports have claimed that the experienced speed star can be dropped from the upcoming England vs. India. On the other BCCI now has to think about Jasprit Bumrah's workload also.

A BCCI source was quoted in a media report, "Shami isn't an automatic pick. It's been months since he has come back to international cricket, but he has barely been in rhythm. While IPL performances are not usually considered while picking India teams, Shami is struggling to finish his run-up, and the ball is not carrying to the wicketkeeper like it used to before his Achilles tendon injury after the 2023 ODI World Cup. He invariably goes back to the dressing room after a short spell for recovery."

The star India fast bowler Mohammed Shami has recently been reported as the target of a heinous act after receiving death threats through an email. As far as the reports are concerned, an individual who identifies himself as Rajput Sindhar sent the email threatening Shami's life on Sunday evening. Shami, who is currently playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, was very traumatized by what the mail contained.

The cricketer's family wasted no time with the matter as Shami's brother, Hasib Ahmed, approached the police today (Monday) and filed a First Information Report (FIR). The family, which is from Amroha in Uttar Pradesh, requested the police to investigate it quickly. Police confirmed that they had registered an FIR and were probing the email, checking who had sent the email with the threat to Shami. The police also confirmed that they are bringing in cybercrime specialists to trace the email to the sender, as well as its origin or integrity.

The incident has raised security concerns, especially as Shami continues to be a vital part of his IPL team. It is expected that additional security measures will be taken to ensure his safety, both on and off the field. Given Shami’s prominence in Indian cricket and the high visibility of IPL matches, the threat has sparked serious discussions about player security and the growing menace of online harassment.

See Also: WATCH: Former football manager Gareth Southgate reflects upon his fond memories of Cricket

Shami has also had under under-par IPL 2025

Shami, who is widely recognized for his tenacity and performances for the Indian team, is yet to speak about the incident publicly. Having said that, it is also expected that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will certainly step in and aid the player to ensure he is provided a reasonable degree of safety. The incident remains under investigation, meanwhile, fans across the country are hopeful that the authorities will swiftly bring the perpetrator to justice and allow Shami to continue to focus on his performance without fear.

However, for the veteran fast bowler, the ongoing IPL 2025 season has not been fruitful either. Shami has played 9 matches and bowled 30 overs, leaking 337 runs and taking 6 wickets. Shami's best bowling figures are 2 for 28. However, the performance has been mediocre, with a high bowling average of 56.16 and an economy of 11.23

In Match 41 of IPL 2025, Mumbai Indians won the toss and decided to field first against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The pitch is expected to favour batting, and the hot weather could make it a high-scoring game. Before the first ball was bowled, players from both teams wore black armbands to honour the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. There will be no fireworks or cheerleaders during this match as a mark of respect.

Sunrisers Hyderabad made a bold move by dropping veteran pacer Mohammed Shami from the playing XI. He has managed just 5 wickets in 7 matches and has struggled with both economy and consistency. SRH skipper Pat Cummins confirmed at the toss that Jaydev Unadkat will replace Shami in the XI. “Just one change. Jaydev Unadkat comes in and Shami goes out, who is a part of the impact list,” Cummins said.

SRH Hope to Bounce Back

Shami remains in the Impact Player list, but with SRH already playing four fast bowlers, his chances of playing in the second innings are low. Mumbai Indians also made a single change, bringing in young leg-spinner Vignesh Puthur for Ashwani Kumar. Puthur has taken 6 wickets in 4 games this season and adds variety to MI’s bowling attack. Once again, Rohit Sharma is on the Impact Player list and could be brought in to open the innings in the second half.

ALSO SEE: [Watch] IPL 2025 Hardik Pandya pulls fan back for autograph after security intervenes

With only two wins this season, SRH are under pressure to deliver. Their top order needs to fire, especially Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen, if they want to put up a strong total and stay in the playoff race. Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, are in great form with three consecutive wins. With key players like Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah in form, MI will be confident of extending their winning run. This game is more than just about points, it’s about pride, momentum, and playing with respect.

Playing XIs and Impact Players

Sunrisers Hyderabad (Playing XI):
Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Aniket Verma, Pat Cummins (c), Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Zeeshan Ansari, Eshan Malinga
Impact Players: Mohammed Shami, Rahul Chahar, Wiaan Mulder, Abhinav Manohar, Sachin Baby

Mumbai Indians (Playing XI):
Ryan Rickelton (wk), Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Vignesh Puthur
Impact Players: Rohit Sharma, Corbin Bosch, Raj Angad Bawa, Robin Minz, Satyanarayana Raju

As the spotlight remains on the Indian Premier League (IPL), the International Cricket Council (ICC) is actively working behind the scenes to restructure international cricket. A significant focus is on revamping the One Day International (ODI) format, which has faced growing criticism for being too favorable to batters. The ICC is now considering changes that could restore some balance between bat and ball—news that could come as a relief to bowlers around the world, including Indian pacer Mohammed Shami.

The current ODI rule, introduced in October 2011, mandates the use of two new balls—one from each end—for the entire 50-over innings. While this was initially intended to maintain the ball's hardness and visibility, it has unintentionally made life difficult for bowlers. Reverse swing, a crucial weapon for pacers in the latter stages of an innings, has almost disappeared. At the same time, spinners have struggled to extract any help, especially on flat, batting-friendly pitches.

Recognizing this imbalance, several cricketers, including Shami, have urged the ICC to reconsider the rule. Their request is to create conditions that once again allow for reverse swing and give bowlers a fair chance, particularly during the middle and death overs. If implemented, the proposed changes could revive the art of reverse swing and bring more excitement and competitiveness back into the ODI format.

See Also: Why umpires are obsessed with bat sizes in IPL 2025? Know the reason behind it

Sourav Ganguly-led committee brings crucial rule change recommendation for ODI cricket 

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has been re-appointed as the chairman of the ICC Men’s Cricket Committee. Joining him on the panel are notable names from the cricketing world, including Hamid Hassan, Desmond Haynes, Temba Bavuma, VVS Laxman—who has also been re-appointed—and Jonathan Trott. The committee represents a diverse mix of cricketing experience across different eras and regions.

Under Ganguly's leadership, the newly formed committee has reportedly submitted several key recommendations to the ICC. Among them is a significant proposal to change an existing rule in One Day Internationals (ODIs), aiming to bring more balance between bat and ball and enhance the competitiveness of the format.

One ball can be used from 35th over

While each innings of the ODI innings now starts with two new balls, it will continue according to the new men's cricket committee, but with some tweaks. At the end of the 34th over, while each ball will be 17 overs older, the bowling side can choose which one of the two balls can be used for the last 16 overs of the innings. The other ball will be kept as the reserve ball in case it is needed.

After this recommendation, each cricket board is expected to bring the feedback by the end of this month. The ICC Annual General Meeting will be organised in July. If the boards give positive signals on this recommendation, it can be formalised in the playing conditions during the ICC AGM. ICC's board approval not required for this, as it is about the playing-condition change.

IPL 2025: Former Australia international Shane Watson feels it was a poor decision from Rohit Sharma that caused Team India to finish the World Cup 2023 as only a runner-up team. Watson was doing his commentary work during the Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Gujarat Titans match (SRH vs. GT). GT clinched all three points with a solid bowling performance by Mohammed Siraj. According to Watson, if Sharma had utilized Siraj in the 2023 Final properly, India could have been the champions.

Read More: IPL 2025: KKR vs LSG – Eden Gardens stadium stats and Preview

"If Siraj had been bowled in the power play in the 2023 World Cup final, he could have dismissed Head much earlier. It was such a blunder decision from Rohit," Shane Watson said.

India was against Australia in the World Cup 2023 final. The Rohit Sharma-led side was full of confidence as they were the undefeated unit in the tournament. Travis Head played one of his career's best for Australia to shatter the dreams of crores of Indian cricket fans. With his 137 (120), Australia flawlessly got the runs they desired. When Siraj dismissed Head in 42.5 overs, it was too late for India, as Australia had already put the better hand on the game. In the WC 2023 final, Siraj bowled for only 7 overs, took the wicket of Head, had a 6.43 economy rate, and slightly better figures than Mohammed Shami, who was then at the top of his game. Watson feels if Siraj were allowed to bowl early, the table could have been turned.

Siraj's IPL 2025 performance so far

Two back-to-back man-of-the-match performances from Mohammed Siraj. Yesterday was a sweet homecoming for the Indian pacer, who knocked 4 Sunrisers Hyderabad batsmen out only for 17 runs. Siraj is currently on cloud nine after his inspiring bowling figures in Bengaluru and Hyderabad. In Hyderabad, last night the right-arm bowler took 4 wickets, and in Bengaluru, against RCB, he claimed 3 scalps in his four-over quota.

Despite new wicket conditions and away match pressure, Siraj was able to keep his mind cool and deliver, which has produced 9 wickets in 4 IPL 2025 matches so far. Once a regular part of Team India, he was later dropped from the team due to lack of form. Now the scenario has changed completely; Siraj, through his match-winning knocks, has become a fan favorite and a potential contender to make a Team India comeback.