Mohammed Shami’s Return Delayed as Bengal Names Ranji Squad Without Him

India’s seasoned pacer Mohammed Shami’s comeback to competitive cricket has been delayed again, as he was excluded from Bengal’s squad for the upcoming Ranji Trophy matches against Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. 

Shami, who has been recovering from a leg injury, was expected to test his match fitness in Bengal’s fixture against Karnataka at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, starting Wednesday. However, his omission indicates a cautious approach toward his return to full fitness.

Despite showing promising signs of recovery, Shami’s recent practice sessions involved a conservative regimen, bowling at full capacity in the nets but with a bandage on his surgically treated leg. India’s bowling coach, Morne Morkel, closely monitored his practice during India’s recent Test against New Zealand, and Shami expressed optimism afterward. 

“I had been bowling with half a run-up on and off since I can’t put too much stress on my body,” Shami said during a recent event. “So, we decided that I would bowl properly, and I gave my 100%. It felt great, and the results are good. Hopefully, I’ll be back on track soon.”

India’s captain Rohit Sharma also voiced a measured stance on Shami’s participation in future international assignments. “We don’t want to bring undercooked Shami to Australia. We are keeping our fingers crossed,” Rohit commented, signaling the team’s intent to prioritize Shami’s long-term fitness over a hurried return.

Shami’s absence will be felt by Bengal, who will also miss the services of key players Abhimanyu Easwaran, Abishek Porel, and Mukesh Kumar, all currently with the India A squad in Australia. Pacer Akash Deep, who featured in India’s recent series against New Zealand, is likewise absent from the Bengal lineup.

However, Bengal’s experienced wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha, who has announced that this will be his final domestic season, has been named in the squad. Veteran batter Anustup Majumdar will captain the team, which also includes promising players like Sudip Chatterjee, Sudip Gharami, and Shahbaz Ahmed.

The Bengal squad’s experience and youth will look to overcome the absence of these key players when they face Karnataka in Bengaluru and Madhya Pradesh in Indore from November 13. Despite Shami’s and others’ absence, Bengal remains hopeful of delivering a competitive performance in these crucial Ranji Trophy fixtures. 

Bengal Squad for Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh Matches:  

Anustup Majumdar (captain), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Sudip Chatterjee, Sudip Gharami, Shahbaz Ahmed, Writtick Chatterjee, Avilin Ghosh, Shuvam Dey, Shakir Habib Gandhi, Pradipta Pramanik, Aamir Gani, Ishan Porel, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Mohammed Kaif, Rohit Kumar, Rishav Vivek.