Bengal fast bowler Mohammed Shami continues to make domestic pitches his battleground, testing top batsmen with relentless pace and movement regardless of match conditions. Even as selection calls continue to bypass him, Shami has focused squarely on picking wickets, starting the new domestic campaign with another emphatic spell of fast bowling.
Dominant spell against Delhi at Kalyani
Playing at the Bengal Cricket Academy ground in Kalyani, Mohammed Shami produced a masterclass in seam and swing bowling against Delhi. While fellow seamers Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep were also part of the bowling attack, Shami operated in an entirely different class, troubling Delhi throughout their innings.
His spell was defined by discipline and accuracy, finishing with 4 wickets for just 30 runs from 17.3 overs, which included 9 maiden overs. His first wicket came through an outswinger that dismissed Yash Dhull. Shami followed up by taking the wickets of Ayush Doseja, Hrithik Shokeen, and Dwij Mehra to dismantle Delhi and demonstrate his match fitness.
Carrying momentum forward from Duleep Trophy
Stepping into Ranji action right after the Duleep Trophy, Mohammed Shami displayed the same sharpness and wicket-taking hunger that established his reputation internationally. Following the exit of Ajit Agarkar, the arrival of a new selection committee and its evolving perspective has renewed expectations regarding Shami, sparking questions on whether his turn could come next after Bhuvi.
65 domestic wickets in the previous season
Mohammed Shami has remained outside the national squad since helping guide India to a championship victory in 2025. It has been approximately 1 year and 7 months since he was dropped from the national side, yet his numbers across domestic competitions remain unmatched.
In the previous season, Shami claimed 37 wickets in just 7 matches, highlighted by an outstanding semi-final return of 8 wickets for 90 runs. His domestic campaign also yielded 7 wickets in the Duleep Trophy, 16 wickets in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and 15 wickets in one-day games. That pushed his tally to 65 domestic wickets for the season, a massive haul that has yet to convince the selection committee to bring him back.
