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NEW DELHI: Star Team India pacer Mohammed Shami delivered a masterclass in seam bowling, taking four crucial wickets for Bengal in the first innings of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match against Madhya Pradesh.
Shami’s pace, accuracy, and ability to extract movement from the pitch helped him dismantle the MP batting lineup, notching up an impressive figure of 4/54 in 19 overs at an economical rate of 2.80.
His wickets included key dismissals such as Madhya Pradesh captain Shubham Sharma and lower-order batters Saransh Jain and Kumar Kartikeya, bringing his team back into contention.
Shami’s return has energized Bengal’s bowling attack, particularly after a challenging outing in their own batting innings, where they were bowled out for 228 on Day 1.
Shami’s efforts were crucial in keeping MP to a manageable 167, giving Bengal a lead of 61 runs at lunch on Day 2.
The veteran pacer’s availability for Australia, however, remains uncertain.
Shami was initially left out of the BGT squad due to fitness concerns. Captain Rohit Sharma had emphasized that they did not want to take an “undercooked Shami” to Australia.
With Australia’s pitches notoriously challenging, particularly in Perth and Adelaide, Shami’s ability to exploit pace and bounce could be a valuable asset to India.
If Shami proves his form and fitness in this Ranji game, a call-up for the BGT remains a possibility.
Cricket legends, including Ricky Ponting, believe that Shami would be ideally suited for the fast tracks in Australia.
His experience and skill could address what many see as a minor gap in India’s pace arsenal, potentially strengthening the team’s chances in this high-stakes series starting November 22 at Perth.
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