Indore
India pacer Mohammed Shami made an impressive return to the Ranji Trophy, claiming four wickets to help Bengal take a first-innings lead over Madhya Pradesh at the Holkar Stadium on Thursday. The 34-year-old seamer, playing his first Ranji match since 2018, finished with figures of 4-54 in 19 overs on Day 2 of the match.
After a wicketless opening day, Shami quickly made an impact, dismissing MP Captain Shubham Sharma for just eight runs with a classic delivery that hit the stumps. His spell of incisive bowling continued as he broke crucial partnerships, including the dismissals of Saransh Jain, Kumar Kartikeya, and Khulwant Khejroliya off successive balls, leaving MP’s lower order in disarray.
Shami’s efforts were instrumental in Bengal taking a vital 61-run lead after the first innings. Despite not bowling at his highest pace, the veteran pacer consistently troubled the MP batsmen, beating the edge of key players like Rajat Patidar multiple times.
Shami, who bowled alongside his brother Mohammed Kaif, last played for Bengal in a one-off game against Kerala in Nov 2018. His performance in this match could signal a return to peak fitness and potentially earn him a spot in India’s squad for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia, starting Nov 22 in Perth.
