India pacer Mohammed Shami had a quiet return to competitive cricket, going wicket-less in his 10-over spell after a 360-day absence as Bengal struggled in their Ranji Trophy Group C clash against Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday.
Opting to field, Madhya Pradesh ended the day at 103/1 after dismissing Bengal for 228 in their first innings. Bengal faces a tough road ahead as they need a win to keep their slim quarterfinal hopes alive.
Shami, who had been recovering from an Achilles tendon injury that required surgery, bowled on a green pitch at Holkar Stadium, recording figures of 10-1-34-0. His initial four-over spell conceded 16 runs with three boundaries, followed by a second spell of 6-1-18-0. The BCCI will closely monitor his fitness, as a strong showing could secure him a spot in India’s squad for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia starting November 22 in Perth.
Notably, Shami played alongside his younger brother, Mohammed Kaif, who claimed the only wicket in Madhya Pradesh’s innings, trapping opener Himanshu Mantri for 13. Meanwhile, opener Shubhranshu Senapati stood firm at 44 from 103 balls, with Rajat Patidar unbeaten on 41 off 55 balls.
Earlier, Bengal’s top order faltered, with Shuvam Dey and Rohit Kumar dismissed for golden ducks. Sudip Chatterjee (15) and Sudip Gharami (10) also struggled, leaving Bengal at a precarious 42/4. Shahbaz Ahmed’s resilient 92 proved crucial, forming a vital 96-run stand with skipper Anustup Majumdar, who contributed significantly before falling. Shahbaz’s impressive innings came to an end just shy of a century, and he was followed by Shami, who batted with Kaif in a rare sibling pairing on the field.
For Madhya Pradesh, Aryan Pandey led the attack with 4/47, supported by left-arm pacer Kulwant Khejroliya, who took 4/84.
