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shami shines in ranji: At the Bengal Cricket Academy Ground in Kalyani, Shami gave a performance that every Indian fan would be proud of. He recorded figures of 8/90 in 22.1 overs, which is the best performance of his first-class career. Thanks to his lethal bowling, Bengal got a lead of 26 runs in the first innings over Jammu and Kashmir in the semi-finals.
Mohammed Shami’s deadly bowling for Bengal against Jammu and Kashmir.
New Delhi. It is said that when talent speaks, there is no need to speak yourself and Shami must have gradually understood this in this season. There are not just spells in cricket, there are some spells which become a statement. At the age of 35, without a BCCI central contract and despite being out of the immediate limelight for the national team, Mohammed Shami has once again put a similar statement straight on the selectors’ table. There have been differences of opinion between BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar and Shami regarding fitness in the last one year. Agarkar believes that Shami is not completely fit for five-day cricket, but Shami has responded with his performance every time, this time too for Bengal.
At the Bengal Cricket Academy Ground in Kalyani, Shami, with his hand bandaged, gave a performance that every Indian fan would be proud of. He recorded figures of 8/90 in 22.1 overs, which is the best performance of his first-class career. Thanks to his lethal bowling, Bengal got a lead of 26 runs in the first innings over Jammu and Kashmir in the semi-finals. It is clear that if Shami had not been there, the path to the Ranji Trophy final would not have been easy for Bengal. Now the clash between Bengal and Karnataka in the final is almost certain.
superb shami
Playing ahead of 249/5, Bengal scored 328 runs. Sudeep Gharami’s innings of 146 runs proved to be the backbone of the team, while Aaqib Nabi impressed with 5/87. Nabi also completed his 50 wickets in Ranji Trophy this season but when Jammu and Kashmir started the counter innings, Shami was in complete control of the match. On the second day, with the new ball, Shami dismissed Shubham Khajuria and Yawar Hasan early to bring Jammu and Kashmir to 13/2 and later he broke the dangerous partnership of 147 runs between Paras Dogra and Abdul Samad. Shami changed the course of the match by dismissing both Samad (82) and Dogra (58). Dogra also completed 10,000 runs in Ranji Trophy during his innings.
Match winner Shami wreaked havoc
While Shami showed control on the second day, on the third day he completely dominated. Shami, who started the day with three wickets, soon completed his five-wicket haul but he did not stop there. When Aaqib Nabi and Yudhvir Singh Charak challenged Bengal’s lead by making a partnership of 64 runs, Shami made a comeback and he first dismissed Yudhvir with a brilliant ball and then bowled Nabi to wrap up the entire innings. Shami consistently took eight wickets with accurate line-lengths. This was a classic, old-fashioned seam bowling display of accuracy and patience. At the age of 35, Shami not only took wickets but also gave a strong message that class and passion are not dependent on age.
Mohammed Shami – Ranji Elite 2025-26 (for Bengal)
Innings: 12
Wickets: 36
Economy Rate: 2.71
Strike Rate: 36.00