Indian tempo veteran Mohammed Shami made a triumphant return to aggressive cricket after a year-long harm layoff, taking seven wickets in Bengal’s thrilling 11-run win over Madhya Pradesh of their Ranji Trophy match on Saturday. Shami’s efficiency included a four-wicket haul within the first innings, and he additionally contributed with the bat. His type is a optimistic signal for Group India, which is heading to Australia with a comparatively inexperienced tempo assault for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy sequence, beginning subsequent week in Perth.
Within the match, Madhya Pradesh gained the toss and elected to subject first. Bengal posted a complete of 228 runs, with Shahbaz Ahmed top-scoring with a quickfire 92 off 80 balls, together with 16 fours and a six. Aryan Pandey (4/47) and Kulwant Khejroliya (4/84) had been the standout bowlers for Madhya Pradesh.
In response, Madhya Pradesh had been bowled out for 167 runs. Subhranshu Senapati (47 off 121 balls, with six fours) and Rajat Patidar (41 off 59 balls, with eight fours) had been their main scorers. Shami impressed with figures of 4/54, whereas Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal and Mohammed Kaif claimed two wickets every, and Rohit Kumar chipped in with one. Bengal secured a 61-run first-innings lead.
Bengal capitalised on their benefit within the second innings, scoring 276 runs. Writtick Chatterjee (52 off 106 balls, with six fours) and Wriddhiman Saha (44 off 115 balls, with three fours) had been the highest scorers, whereas Shami contributed an important 37 off 36 balls, together with two fours and two sixes. This set a goal of 338 runs for Madhya Pradesh.
Of their chase, Madhya Pradesh fell agonisingly brief, bowled out for 326 runs. Skipper Shubham Sharma (61 off 116 balls, with six fours), Venkatesh Iyer (53 off 95 balls, with eight fours), and Subhranshu Senapati (50 off 110 balls, with six fours) scored half-centuries, however the remainder of the batting line-up faltered.
Shami, although costly within the second innings, took 3/102 in 24.2 overs. Shahbaz Ahmed was the decide of the bowlers with figures of 4/48 and was adjudged ‘Participant of the Match’ for his all-round efficiency.
Shami’s return to home cricket marks an essential step in his comeback journey. He had been in sensational type throughout the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, ending because the event’s main wicket-taker with 24 wickets in seven matches at a mean of 10.70, together with three five-wicket hauls. His finest efficiency got here within the semi-final towards New Zealand, the place he claimed 7/57. Nonetheless, after India’s heartbreaking loss to Australia within the remaining, the group redeemed themselves with a T20 World Cup win within the Caribbean, although Shami was pressured to observe from the sidelines because of harm.
Together with his home cricket return, Shami shall be seeking to reclaim his spot within the Indian group forward of the ICC Champions Trophy and the Indian Premier League in 2025. If included within the squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Shami’s expertise can be invaluable, notably given India’s inexperienced tempo assault. The bowling line-up options Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and promising abilities similar to Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Akash Deep.
Shami has a formidable Take a look at file in Australia, with 31 wickets in eight matches at a mean of 32.16, together with finest figures of 6/56.
India’s squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (Wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Virat Kohli, Prasidh Krishna, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Rishabh Pant (Wk), KL Rahul, Harshit Rana, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar.
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