Mohammed Shami, who was ignored by the Indian team, has made a brilliant comeback in Ranji Trophy. In the semi-final for Bengal, he took 8 wickets for 90 runs against Jammu and Kashmir. With this performance he has strengthened his claim to return to the team.
Kolkata: Despite being consistently ignored in the Indian team, Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami has shown impressive bowling performance in domestic cricket. Playing for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy semi-finals, Shami took eight wickets for 90 runs against Jammu and Kashmir. Thanks to Shami’s tremendous bowling, Bengal gained a significant lead in the first innings against Jammu and Kashmir. Batting first, Bengal was all out for 328 runs in the first innings, in response to which Bengal took the lead by bundling out Jammu and Kashmir for 302 runs.
Shami, who troubled Jammu and Kashmir’s top order on the second day of the match, also destroyed the lower order on the third day. Taking advantage of the moisture present on the pitch in the morning, Shami troubled the batsmen with his trademark seam bowling. Shami played an important role in giving Bengal the lead by breaking the partnership of Abdul Samad (82) and captain Paras Dogra (58), who were struggling for Jammu and Kashmir.
Shami, who was out of the team for a long time due to injury and surgery after the 2023 ODI World Cup, did not even find a place in the recently released BCCI annual contract. But Shami, who took five wickets against Gujarat and Services in Ranji Trophy, has once again attracted the attention of the selectors by taking eight wickets in the semi-finals.
Having regained his power to bowl long spells and his old pace, it will be difficult for the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar to ignore him. If Bengal reaches the Ranji final, Shami’s performance in the final could be crucial for his comeback in the Indian team. It is believed that Shami’s aim is to make a place in the ODI World Cup team to be held in South Africa next year, just like Ishan Kishan made a place in the World Cup team by shining in domestic cricket. It is believed that Shami was dropped from the Indian team and also removed from the annual contract due to his controversial statement against Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar.