Indian pace bowler Mohammed Shami is ready to mark his return to competitive cricket on Wednesday, November 13. Shami is slated to play for Bengal against Madhya Pradesh in their upcoming Ranji Trophy Elite Group C clash, set to take place in Indore.
Shami’s last appearance for India was in the 2023 ODI World Cup final held in Ahmedabad on November 19. Following the tournament, he had to step away from the game due to an ankle injury. Shami then underwent surgery and a comprehensive rehabilitation program at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. Although initially expected to return sooner, lingering knee swelling delayed his comeback.
After the initial Test match against New Zealand in Bengaluru, Shami was seen practising rigorously under the guidance of India’s assistant coach, Abhishek Nayar, showing promise with his form. Unfortunately, he couldn’t participate in Bengal’s opening Ranji Trophy matches.
The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) confirmed Shami’s addition to the Bengal squad, highlighting that his experience and skill would not only boost the team’s performance but also motivate the squad as they aim for the next phase of the Ranji Trophy.
Currently, Bengal is positioned fifth in the points table, with eight points from four matches and coming off a strong win over Karnataka.
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If Shami stays fit throughout the Ranji match, it could be a promising development for India’s Test squad, which recently landed in Perth for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series set to start soon. India’s lineup features a younger set of pace bowlers, including Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, and Harshit Rana, with only Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj offering significant international experience.
With Shami’s impressive track record in Australia, where he has taken 31 wickets in eight Tests at an average of 32.16, his presence would add much-needed depth and veteran insight to the team.
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