Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy | Shami shows consistent progress as speculation grows around India call-up

Bengal’s Mohammed Shami during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy pre-quarterfinal match between Bengal and Chandigarh.
| Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR

Mohammed Shami checked all the boxes as he put on a good show for Bengal against Chandigarh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy pre-quarterfinal here on Monday.

Shami shone with bat and ball at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, even as speculation grew surrounding a possible call-up to the Indian Test squad. India captain Rohit Sharma had stated that Shami would be welcomed to Australia, provided he is fully fit.

Shami made his entry on Monday with bat in hand, coming in at eight-drop for Bengal. The 34-year-old rescued his team from a precarious 114 for eight, smashing an unbeaten 17-ball 32. Shami hammered three sixes, including a sweetly timed flat hit over extra cover off pacer Sandeep Sharma. There were no visible fitness concerns, as Shami ran at full tilt between the wickets and recorded his highest T20 score.

Mohammed Shami.
| Photo Credit:
K. MURALI KUMAR

Massage break

Shami was all class with the new ball. He bowled three overs on the trot, returning figures of 3-0-13-1. He kept a tight length at a brisk pace, nearly breaching the 140 kmph mark. Shami left the field after his first spell, and took a massage outside the boundary ropes.

He returned to the field after a couple of overs, as Bengal pressed for a win. In a minor blip, Shami bowled a wayward penultimate over, conceding 12 runs. It did not prove to be costly, as Bengal won by three runs.

Shami has not played for India since the 2023 ODI World Cup final.