Mohammed Shami, one of the top fast bowler in India, will not play any of Bengal’s upcoming matches in the Ranji Trophy as he hasn’t featured in any competitive match since the ODI world cup final held on November 19, 2023. The 34-year-old fast bowler, who last week was released by the Gujarat Titans prior to the IPL 2025 mega auctions, was omitted from the Bengal Ranji Trophy squad announced for the two matches against Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh that are set to be played in Bengaluru and Indore respectively.
Shami was supposed to represent the Bengal team in the fourth and fifth round matches of the Ranji Trophy to get enough game time, but now he has to wait longer to make his comeback.
Shami is said to have a chance to be picked up in the Indian squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 upon proving his fitness in the Ranji Trophy, but that is not likely to come to fruition now.
“Shami is expected to be available for the matches against Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh,” said Bengal head coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla to The Indian Express last week. “He is an important cricketer for the country and his services will be needed in the team for the Australia tour. Sometime back, he expressed his enthusiasm in playing one or two Ranji matches for Bengal, before leaving for Australia. We will also be well supported for the Australia tour because he will benefit from good performances in the Ranji Trophy before the tour; our four key players are representing India and India A, respectively,” Shukla said.
Shreyas Iyer will make his return to the Mumbai Ranji Trophy squad, after recovering from the injury, against Tripura at its last game in Agartala.
As per a report by the Times of India, Iyer will take the field for the next match against Odisha, which commences at MCA Ground on November 6. The rest of the composition of the Mumbai squad remains intact, which also means that Prithvi Shaw could not be accommodated yet again.
Shaw was excluded from the Mumbai team for the previous game played against Tripura owing to his fitness and injury issues.
