Mohammed Shami (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) Mohammed Shami has made a thunderous statement with the red ball, reminding everyone of his class and hunger for Test cricket. Turning out for Bengal in the ongoing Ranji Trophy, the veteran pacer has picked up an incredible 15 wickets in just two matches, making a strong case for his return to the Indian squad ahead of the South Africa Test series. In Bengalâ€s latest outing against Gujarat at Eden Gardens, Shami produced a masterclass in fast bowling, claiming eight wickets in the match to seal a 141-run win for his side. The 35-year-old ripped through Gujaratâ€s batting line-up with figures of 10-1-38-5 in the second innings, bundling them out for 185 while chasing 327 on the final day. Earlier in the game, he had bagged 3 for 44 in the first innings, setting the tone for a convincing victory.Also Watch:
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This performance followed his stunning effort in the first-round clash against Uttarakhand, where he picked up seven wickets to guide Bengal to an eight-wicket win. With 15 wickets from two matches, Shami now sits third on the wicket-takers†chart for the season, behind Jammu and Kashmirâ€s Auqib Nabi Dar (17) and Services†Arjun Sharma (16). Shami last featured for India in the Champions Trophy final earlier this year and has been out of international action since then. His last Test appearance came in the 2023 World Test Championship final. The senior pacerâ€s recent form appears to be a direct response to national selectors, particularly chairman Ajit Agarkar, who had recently stated that Shami needed more game time before being considered for a recall. The bowler had replied confidently, saying, “Let him say whatever he wants. You have seen how I bowled. It is all in front of your eyes.†With his fiery performances for Bengal, Shami has now ensured that the selectors cannot ignore what is indeed right in front of their eyes.
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