Mohammed Shami produced a disciplined opening burst and powered Lucknow Super Giants to a five-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad, later outlining the thinking that guided his bowing changes. The senior fast bowler finished with figures of 2 for 9 from his four overs, striking 18 dot balls and repeatedly squeezing the SRH batters in the early phase. SRH managed to rally to 156 for 9, but the chase never looked fully within reach once Shami had set the tempo and exposed weaknesses in the top order.
When named Player of the Match, Shami explained that the increased emphasis on slower deliveries was inspired by what he had noticed the season before. Speaking at the presentation, he said he had been in Hyderabad previously and remembered how frequently slower balls were being bowled. He added that both the other bowlers and the opposing batters appeared to be working with a high number of slower balls, which nudged him to try the approach himself. “Last year I was here, a lot of slower balls were bowled. That was in my mind, the bowlers and the opponents bowled a lot of slower balls, so I thought why not I try it too,” Shami said.
Shami’s influence was felt immediately in the first over, when he struck to dismiss Abhishek Sharma for a duck. He then followed up by removing Travis Head soon after, leaving Sunrisers Hyderabad under pressure from the start. The momentum only worsened for SRH as Ishan Kishan was also sent back cheaply during the Powerplay, and the innings began to unravel.
At 22 for 3 and then slipping to 26 for 4, SRH were left staring at a potential collapse. The turning point came through a partnership between Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen, who steadied the innings with a 116-run stand that brought SRH back into contention and helped them reach 156 for 9.
Shami also spoke about the significance of the result after a disappointing outing in the previous game and stressed the value of staying sharp through consistent match practice. He said the side were encouraged by bouncing back after losing at home previously, and that building momentum is crucial once a team finds its footing. “We are very happy because we had lost the previous match at home, so it was very important for us to win this match to build momentum. Once you get that start, the winning momentum continues. (on his preparation for this IPL) If you like cricket, and if you want to play at any level, then it is important to be in touch with the game,” Shami said.
He further highlighted how preparation and the ability to adapt quickly allow players to execute their plans with greater clarity. “If you want to perform at a good level, it’s very important to maintain your fitness. First, you have to be fit then you can show your skill. Regarding domestic cricket, my plan was to be in touch with the game, so that I can be in the flow. That’s why I played all the matches. (on his changes to his bowling today) Without skill and without experience, nothing works. It’s about quickly adapting to the conditions and reading them is very important,” he added.
Even with SRH’s late recovery, Lucknow kept control in the chase, with the captain steering the innings from the front. The skipper remained unbeaten on 68 as LSG closed out the win comfortably, sealing the five-wicket result.
