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India fast bowler Mohammed Shami bowled a fantastic spell in Bengal’s quarter-final preliminary match against Haryana in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25. Shami bowled his full quota of 10 overs and hardly saw any discomfort.
His fitness has been a major concern for India in recent months. Shami had to miss the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to injury concerns. But with the 2025 Champions Trophy just over a month away, his bowling was a huge plus for the Men in Blue.
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Mohammed Shami makes 10 knocks in the Vijay Hazare Trophy
Mohammed Shami seems determined to return to Indian colors and was visible during Bengal’s Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Haryana on January 9. He bowled lengths and was able to get some good pace as well.
Shami took the big wicket of opener Himanshu Rana in his opening spell when he had him caught behind for just 14. He didn’t get a wicket at mid-off but returned to the charmer to take the dangerous wicket. Dinesh Bana for 15.
The 34-year-old quick didn’t stop there and took the wicket of bowler Anshul Kamboj in his next over. He made four rounds of death. Although he was a bit expensive, he was able to pick up crucial wickets.
Mohammed Shami finished with 3-61 in his 10-over spell and was his team’s leading wicket-taker. It was the first time he bowled his full innings in this season’s Vijay Hazare Trophy. He had bowled just 8 overs each in his last two matches against Madhya Pradesh and Bihar respectively where he recorded figures of 1-40 and 1-28.
Will Mohammed Shami make India’s Champions Trophy squad?
India’s squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy will be selected in the coming days and Mohammed Shami has staked his claim with a strong performance. He has shown his fitness with a spell of 10 overs and the selectors are likely to take that into account when picking the squad.
Shami’s experience will be valuable for India in the Champions Trophy. There are injury clouds over Jasprit Bumrah’s participation after he suffered a side strain recently in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Shami was in line for selection for the Test series against Australia, but knee inflammation during his rehabilitation delayed his return. India missed his services as they were left with just two experienced quicks in the handy Australian wickets.
Haryana knocked out Bengal
Meanwhile, Mohammed Shami’s exploits could not take Bengal home as they lost the match and were eliminated from the tournament. Haryana scored 298-9 while batting first after fifties from Parth Vats and Nishant Sindhu. Sumit Kumar provided the final push with a fine 41 off 32 balls.
In reply, Bengal’s batsmen started but none of them could make it big. Wicketkeeper Abishek Porel top scored with 57 off 78 balls as he opened the batting. Skipper Sudip Kumar Gharami and Anustup Majumdar scored threes, but in the end it was not enough as Bengal were bundled out for just 226.
