Kolkata, October 28: Left out of recent India squads, senior pacer Mohammed Shami made the perfect statement with the ball, grabbing a brilliant five-wicket haul to power Bengal to a 141-run victory over Gujarat in their Ranji Trophy clash at Eden Gardens.
With his form and fitness under scrutiny, Shami responded in trademark style, dismantling the Gujarat batting lineup with figures of 5 for 38 in the second innings. He had earlier taken three wickets in the first innings, capping off a dominant match performance that reminded everyone—including India’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar—of his enduring class.
“My motivation is to stay fit and be available for the Indian team at all times,” Shami said after the match. “On the ground, I will continue to perform — the rest is up to the selectors.”
Bengal’s win was built on a solid team effort. Sudip Gharami (56), Abishek Porel (51), and Sumanta Gupta (63) lifted the hosts to 279 in their first innings, while Shahbaz Ahmed and Shami led the bowling attack to flatten Gujarat twice. Spinner Siddharth Desai’s four-wicket haul was the only bright spot for the visitors.
Shami, who last represented India during the 2025 Champions Trophy, has been vocal about his desire to make a comeback. He admitted that while selection involves an element of luck, his focus remains on performance and consistency.
“Every player wants to play for the country. A lot of hard work goes in, and I believe luck plays its part too. I feel the rhythm is coming back, and cricket is still left in me,” he said with a smile.
Despite public remarks from Agarkar about his lack of recent match time, Shami brushed aside any controversy with humor, saying, “I am always involved in some controversy, thanks to you guys (laughs). It’s a misunderstanding.”
With this performance, the 35-year-old has not only powered Bengal to the top of their group but also sent a clear reminder to the national selectors ahead of India’s upcoming fixtures.
Shami will next be in action when Bengal face Tripura from November 1, a game that could further strengthen his case for an India recall.
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