Indian fast bowler Muhammad Shami made his long-awaited return to professional cricket after a year-long injury layoff playing for Bengal in the year Ranji Trophy against Madhya Pradesh at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Wednesday.
The struggles of Bengal and the return of Muhammad Shami
Madhya Pradesh won the toss and preferred to field first, putting Bengal in a tough spot early on. Bengal are reduced to 33/3 and 79/5, with no significant partnerships so far Shahbaz Ahmed and captain Anustup Majumdar put on 96 for the sixth wicket. Shahbaz scored a valuable 92 to give Bengal a total of 228.
As the evening session began on day one, all eyes were on Shami, who was making his first appearance since the 2023 World Cup final against Australia on November 19. It also marked his return to first-class cricket after playing in the World Test Championship. final against Australia in June of that year.
Shami opened the bowling for Bengal, but it was clear he was still finding his rhythm after a long break. While he was able to get a few deliveries to beat the bat and sent some sharp bounces, there were also some loose deliveries, including wide balls that showed he was rusty.
We present the video:
Mohammed Shami Bowling vs MP in #RanjiTrophy.
Video – @mp_score_update and Saurajit Chatterjee pic.twitter.com/4kU1Rxlcj6
— CricDomestic (@CricDomestic_) November 13, 2024
Also READ: 3 teams to target Mohammad Shami in IPL 2025 mega auctions
Injuries and future plans
Apart from bowling, viewers noticed that Shami had a problem with his left ankle during the match. His fitness will be closely monitored, with India keen to ensure he doesn’t return to the national set-up too soon. Despite not being named in the squad for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Shami’s successful comeback could see him enter the second half of the series late, provided his fitness improves.
The effect of Shami on the 2nd day
Although Shami remained scoreless on the first day, he played a crucial role on the morning of the second day (November 14) and helped start the collapse for Madhya Pradesh. He proved his worth with the ball, finishing with impressive figures of 19-4-54-4 and showed glimpses of the bowler who has been a key figure for India in the past.
Shami’s return to competitive cricket after an injury layoff is an encouraging sign and fans and selectors will be watching closely as he looks to regain full form in the coming weeks.
