Mohammed Shami has come back in grand style! After a short gap, he returned to the pitch and made a solid impact by picking up four crucial wickets in his comeback match. It seems like he is here to prove his mettle once again.
“Shami’s Seam Magic Revives Bengal and Hints at a Possible Comeback for Australia Tour”
ndia’s star pacer Mohammed Shami delivered a masterclass in seam bowling for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match against Madhya Pradesh. With his exceptional pace, accuracy, and control, Shami bagged four key wickets in the first innings, giving MP’s batting line-up a real run for their money. His impressive figures of 4/54 in 19 overs at a tidy economy of 2.80 were just what Bengal needed to stay in the game. His scalps included Madhya Pradesh’s captain Shubham Sharma, along with lower-order players Saransh Jain and Kumar Kartikeya, bringing Bengal back into the contest.
Shami’s return to domestic cricket has given Bengal’s bowling attack a real boost, especially after Bengal themselves struggled with the bat, getting all out for 228 on Day 1. Thanks to Shami’s brilliant spell, Bengal managed to keep MP down to 167, securing a 61-run lead by lunch on Day 2.
However, the question of whether Shami will be fit to join Team India for the tour of Australia remains up in the air. Shami wasn’t initially named in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) squad because of some fitness concerns, and Captain Rohit Sharma had mentioned that they didn’t want to risk an “undercooked Shami” for the Australian pitches.
Considering how tricky the fast and bouncy pitches of Australia, especially in Perth and Adelaide, can be, Shami’s ability to extract extra movement and bounce could be a valuable asset for Team India. Cricket legend Ricky Ponting and others believe Shami would be perfect for the Aussie conditions and could play a major role in India’s pace attack, filling in a small but crucial gap.
If Shami shows both form and fitness in this Ranji match, a call-up for the BGT series starting November 22 in Perth might just be on the cards. His experience, along with his skill, could add that much-needed punch to India’s bowling, making India’s chances in this big series even brighter.
