Indian pacer Mohammed Shami, who has not played a competitive match since the ODI World Cup final on November 19, 2023, will miss Bengal’s next two Ranji Trophy matches. The 34-year-old fast bowler, released by Gujarat Titans ahead of the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auctions, is absent from Bengal’s squad for matches against Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. These matches will take place in Bengaluru and Indore, respectively.
Mohammed Shami was initially expected to feature in the fourth and fifth rounds of the Ranji Trophy, a move aimed at helping him gain match fitness. This would have been pivotal for his potential inclusion in the Indian squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, contingent on proving his fitness. However, with Shami now ruled out of these Ranji fixtures, his return remains uncertain.
Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Bengal’s coach, expressed last week his optimism about Shami joining the team. “He is a valuable player for India, and the team will need his services for the Australia series,” Shukla noted. Mohammed Shami had shown enthusiasm for playing these domestic matches as a warm-up before the Australia tour. A successful stint in these games would have been advantageous for both Shami and Bengal, particularly with several key players currently representing India and India A.
In contrast, Shreyas Iyer is poised for a return to action, ready to play for Mumbai in their Ranji Trophy campaign after missing their last game against Tripura in Agartala.
