New Delhi: Senior India pacer Mohammed Shami came up with a cheeky remark as he opened up on his India comeback after a stellar show in Bengal’s clash against Gujarat in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024-25. Shami picked up a five-wicket haul in Gujarat’s second innings to power Bengal to a thumping 141-run victory in the game at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Shami has been in exceptional form for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy this season, having picked up 15 wickets in two matches so far. He picked up seven wickets in Bengal’s opener against Uttarakhand and followed up with 8 wickets across two innings against Gujarat. Shami took a three-wicket haul in Gujarat’s first innings and finished with figures of 5/38 in the second.
The 35-year-old was recently involved in a war of words with chief selector Ajit Agarkar after openly contradicting his claims about his fitness. Shami said he wouldn’t be playing in the Ranji Trophy if he was not fully fit after Agarkar cited fitness as the reason behind his non-selection in India’s ODI and T20I squads for the ongoing tour of Australia.
Agarkar later addressed Shami’s claims at an event and said he would give the pacer an answer if he had directly asked him. The chief selector also claimed that he has held multiple conversations with the pacer over the last few months, while stating that Shami would have been in the squad had he been match fit.
Shami sent a strong message to the Agarkar-led selection panel and the Indian team management after his heroics against Gujarat and refused to talk much about his India comeback. Addressing the recent scrutiny surrounding his war of words with Agarkar, Shami said, “I always end up being in controversies — you (the media) have made me that kind of bowler”.
“Mai bolunga to bawal ho jayega (If I speak, I will get in trouble),” he added cheekily.