Cricket

Mohammed Shami's remarkable return to competitive cricket in the Ranji Trophy has earned him high praise from Bengal coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla. After a year-long absence due to an ankle injury, Shami made a stunning comeback on Thursday, showcasing his exceptional bowling skills against Madhya Pradesh.In his first appearance since last year's ODI World Cup, Shami bowled with precision and pace, capturing 4 wickets for 54 runs in 19 overs. His impressive performance put Bengal in a commanding position at the Holkar Stadium.Shukla was particularly impressed by Shami's ability to return to form after such a long layoff. "Someone has come back after one year and has bowled 19 overs and taken so many wickets... what's there to say?" Shukla said. "He came into the match without doing any match simulation. Can you imagine? But obviously, if he plays more, he will get better."Shami started economically, conceding only 34 runs in his first 10 overs. However, he grew in confidence as the innings progressed, rattling the Madhya Pradesh batting order with his mesmerizing pace. He dismissed key batsmen, including skipper Shubham Sharma, Saransh Jain, Kumar Kartikeya, and Kulwant Khejroliya."He bowled one six-over spell and one five-over spell," Shukla added. "Players who bowl in the IPL don't even know how to bowl more than four overs. He bowled the sort of spells fast bowlers are expected to. I have never seen a fast bowler come back so strongly after one year away. What he did today is like a fairy tale."Shami's performance has reignited hopes that he could be available for India's upcoming Test series against Australia. The seasoned speedster missed out on a call for the Border Gavaskar Trophy but has started to make a case for his inclusion if needed.

Bengal's Shami Shines with Bat and Ball in Thrilling Ranji Trophy FinishKOLKATA: The Bengal and Madhya Pradesh Elite Group 'C' Ranji Trophy match is poised for a nail-biting conclusion, with the hosts Bengal chasing 338 for victory and currently sitting at 150 for three at stumps on the penultimate day.Mohammed Shami, the star Bengal pacer, played a crucial role in both innings of the match. In the first innings, he picked up three wickets to restrict Madhya Pradesh to 276. In the second innings, Shami came to the crease with Bengal struggling at 219/8.Undeterred, Shami showcased his batting prowess, stitching together a valuable 39-run last-wicket stand with his brother Mohammed Kaif. Shami's aggressive approach, including two fours and two sixes, propelled Bengal's second innings total to 276.Shami's batting heroics were followed by an impressive bowling performance. He returned to bowl 11 overs in the next two sessions of play, demonstrating his resilience and determination.Bengal coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla praised Shami's all-round contribution. "It was great to see how Shami took up the challenge," Shukla said. "He showed his character and fighting spirit."With Bengal needing 188 runs to win on the final day, the match is set for a thrilling finish. Shami's performance with both bat and ball has given Bengal a glimmer of hope, and his presence on the field will be crucial in determining the outcome of the match.

Opener Subhransu Senapati's gritty half-century kept Madhya Pradesh in the hunt for an outright win over Bengal in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group-C match at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.Resuming at 170 for five, Bengal made 276 in its second innings, setting Madhya Pradesh a target of 338. The contest is evenly poised as the host, at 150 for three on day three, needs 188 runs while Bengal requires seven wickets to record victory on the final day.Overnight batters Writtick Chatterjee (52, 106b, 6x4) and Wriddhiman Saha (44, 115b, 3x4) concentrated hard for a 67-run stand. Writtick pulled Kumar Kartikeya to deep-square leg shortly after completing his half-century.A patient Saha mostly scored in singles before being given out, caught at first slip off Kartikeya while trying a scoop, and walked back disappointed.Riding his luck, Mohammed Shami (37, 36b, 2x4 2x6) swung his bat to add 39 runs with his brother Kaif for the final wicket before becoming Kartikeya's fourth victim. His cameo helped Bengal set a challenging target.With the track becoming docile and some deliveries keeping low, Bengal bowlers had to work hard. The right-left opening combination of Senapati (50, 110b, 6x4) and Himanshu Mantri (44, 77b, 4x4) gave Madhya Pradesh a fine start.Senapati, who survived two lbw appeals and got a 'life' on 14, played fluent drives on either side, while Mantri mostly rotated the strike and occasionally found a boundary.Shami, bowling 11 overs in four spells at a good speed, tried different lengths and leaked runs. Rohit Kumar provided the breakthrough as Mantri's leading edge went to deep fine-leg.Senapati added 41 runs with Rajat Patidar (32, 41b, 4x4) before being bowled by Shahbaz. Shami removed night watchman Anubhav Agarwal cheaply, but captain Shubham Sharma and Patidar, who executed sweetly-timed shots, prevented further damage.

Mohammed Shami, the star Indian pacer, has made a remarkable comeback in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match against Madhya Pradesh. His exceptional bowling performance has reignited Bengal's hopes in the contest.Shami's mastery of seam bowling was evident as he claimed four crucial wickets in MP's first innings. His pace, accuracy, and ability to extract movement from the pitch proved too much for the MP batters. He finished with impressive figures of 4/54 in 19 overs, with an economical rate of 2.80.Among his victims were MP captain Shubham Sharma and lower-order batters Saransh Jain and Kumar Kartikeya. Shami's wickets played a pivotal role in restricting MP to a manageable 167, giving Bengal a lead of 61 runs at lunch on Day 2.Shami's return has energized Bengal's bowling attack, which had struggled in their own batting innings, being bowled out for 228 on Day 1. His presence has provided a much-needed boost to the team's morale.However, Shami's availability for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) in Australia remains uncertain. He was initially left out of the squad due to fitness concerns. Captain Rohit Sharma had emphasized that they did not want to risk an "undercooked Shami" on the challenging Australian pitches.Despite his absence from the BGT squad, Shami's performance in the Ranji Trophy could potentially earn him a call-up. Cricket legends like Ricky Ponting believe that Shami's pace and bounce would be invaluable on the fast tracks in Australia.If Shami proves his form and fitness in this Ranji game, he could address what many see as a minor gap in India's pace arsenal. His experience and skill could strengthen the team's chances in the high-stakes series against Australia, which begins on November 22 in Perth.

Mohammed Shami's much-anticipated return to competitive cricket after a year-long absence was met with challenges as Bengal faced Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group-C match at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.On a greenish pitch with moisture, Madhya Pradesh elected to field and capitalized on the conditions. Aryan Pandey and Kulwant Khejroliya's four-wicket hauls restricted Bengal to a modest 228 in the first innings.Bengal's batting woes began early as Shuvam Dey was dismissed cheaply. Khejroliya then wreaked havoc, removing Sudip Gharami, Rohit Kumar, and Sudip Chatterjee in quick succession. Shahbaz Ahmed (92) and Anustup Majumdar (44) steadied the ship with a 96-run partnership, but Khejroliya broke the stand to dismiss Majumdar.Shahbaz played a rash shot and narrowly missed a century. In reply, Madhya Pradesh openers Subhransu Senapati (44*) and Rajat Patidar (41*) provided a solid start, taking their team to 103 for one at stumps.Shami, who underwent Achilles tendon surgery in February, bowled with good control but lacked rhythm. He finished with figures of 0-16 and 0-18 in his two spells.Bengal coach L.R. Shukla acknowledged the challenges Shami faced, saying, "It's never easy to come back from a surgery and bowl after a year. The more Shami plays, the better he will become."

Indian pacer Mohammed Shami is poised to make his long-awaited return to competitive cricket after an extended absence of nearly a year. The Bengal stalwart will don the blue and gold jersey in their Ranji Trophy encounter against Madhya Pradesh, commencing on Wednesday. This development marks a significant milestone in Shami's rehabilitation journey, as he received the green light from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) to resume playing.Shami's return has been eagerly anticipated, with expectations of his participation in the Ranji Trophy. However, a delayed fitness certificate from the NCA due to reported injury concerns hindered his earlier involvement. Now, with the NCA's clearance, Shami is set to spearhead Bengal's pace attack against Madhya Pradesh.This comeback holds immense significance for both Bengal and India. Bengal will be bolstered by Shami's presence, especially with pacers Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar currently representing India in Australia, and Ishan Porel recovering from an injury. Shami's experience and skill will provide a much-needed boost to Bengal's bowling unit.For India, Shami's return to fitness ahead of the crucial Australian tour is a major development. His form and fitness will be closely monitored as he prepares for the upcoming challenges. Shami's last competitive appearance was in the 2023 World Cup final on November 19th, after which he embarked on an injury rehabilitation program.Shami's inclusion in the Bengal team is not only a boost to their performance but also a morale booster for the entire squad. Bengal currently sits in fifth place in the points table with 8 points from 4 games, having secured three crucial points in their last match against Karnataka. The team aims to qualify for the next round of the Ranji Trophy, and Shami's presence will undoubtedly enhance their chances.

Mohammed Shami's return to competitive cricket has been further delayed as he was not included in the Bengal squad for the upcoming Ranji Trophy matches against Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. Bengal will face Karnataka at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium from Wednesday, followed by a clash with Madhya Pradesh in Indore from November 13.Shami was expected to feature in the Karnataka fixture to assess his fitness in a match situation. He had bowled at full tilt in the nets after India's recent Test against New Zealand, albeit with a bandage on his operated leg. India's bowling coach Morne Morkel also monitored his progress.Shami expressed confidence in his recovery, stating that he felt "100%" in the nets. "I had been bowling with half a run-up on and off since I can't put too much stress on my body. So, we decided that I would bowl properly, and I gave my 100%," he said.However, India skipper Rohit Sharma cautioned against rushing Shami back into action. "We don't want to bring undercooked Shami to Australia. We are keeping our fingers crossed," Rohit said.In addition to Shami, Bengal will also be without Abhimanyu Easwaran, Abhishek Porel, and Mukesh Kumar, who are currently with the India A squad in Australia. Akash Deep, who was part of the Indian team for the New Zealand series, was also omitted from the state squad.Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha, who has announced his retirement from cricket after the ongoing domestic season, has been named in the squad for the two matches.

Nikin Jose's valiant 99 (216b, 8x4, 6x6) denied Madhya Pradesh the bragging rights over Karnataka as their 2024-25 Ranji Trophy Elite Group-C opener petered out to a draw at the Holkar Stadium.The hosts, resuming on 425 for eight, set themselves a minimum of 98 overs to bowl Karnataka out and secure three points. For the visitors, gaining the lead was a distant dream, but it was an ideal opportunity to showcase their resilience and set the tone for the season ahead.Nikin and Shreyas Gopal (60 n.o., 110b, 7x4, 1x6) rose to the challenge, rescuing Karnataka from a precarious 72 for four with a 127-run partnership. Nikin fell agonizingly short of a well-deserved century, trapped leg-before by left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya minutes before tea.However, the 24-year-old, who had endured a disappointing 2023-24 campaign, had already made a significant impact on both his team and himself. At 206 for five, bad light and a slight drizzle officially ended proceedings, giving both sides a point each.Nikin, who opened the innings, weathered the early onslaught of off-spinner Saransh Jain and Kartikeya, who bowled 32 of the 37 overs in the morning session as the new cherry gripped, turned, and bounced. Mayank Agarwal and Manish Pandey were both caught by close-in fielders off Kartikeya, while Devdutt Padikkal paid the price for playing back to Saransh's delivery that slid and thudded into the pads.Debutant R. Smaran concentrated hard (17, 51b, 1x4, 1x6), but had his off-stump rearranged by Saransh while trying to guard against the one that would hold its line. From there on, Nikin and Shreyas dug in. After safely negotiating until lunch, the duo scored briskly, collecting 46 runs from the next 10 overs. Nikin, after impressing with his cut shots early, slapped Saransh for a four and six down the ground. The half-century was had by flicking Avesh Khan to the mid-wicket fence.Shreyas, who was reprieved by Rajat Patidar at backward short-leg when on six, played the ideal foil, nudging, driving, and sweeping his way to his 15th First Class fifty. Nikin moved into the 90s with towering back-to-back maximums off Saransh. Kartikeya spared his spin partner of further misery, but it came a tad too late.

Indore's Holkar Stadium witnessed a frustrating day three of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group C opener between Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka as inclement weather and poor light conditions halted play prematurely.After the opening day was washed out without a ball being bowled, Sunday's proceedings began under clear skies and sunshine. However, only 57 overs could be completed before light worsened, forcing an early tea break. Two rounds of rain subsequently brought an end to the day's play.At stumps, Madhya Pradesh had reached 425 for eight in their first innings, thanks to a solid batting performance led by skipper Shubham Sharma. Sharma, who had retired hurt on day one, returned to notch up his ninth First-Class century, scoring an unbeaten 143 off 243 deliveries.The 30-year-old exhibited a textbook approach to batting, playing with patience and precision. He defended resolutely, played close to his body, and always timed the ball well.Karnataka's bowlers, led by speedster V. Vyshak, started strongly. Vyshak dismissed Venkatesh Iyer in the second over of the day, while Harpreet Singh Bhatia was castled by V. Koushik for 91.However, Shubham and Saransh Jain (51 off 128 balls) steadied the Madhya Pradesh innings, putting on a 131-run partnership for the seventh wicket. This partnership ensured that Karnataka would likely only earn a single point from the match.Karnataka's absence of lead pacer Prasidh Krishna was keenly felt. Krishna, who had returned from a quadriceps injury in the Duleep Trophy, walked off the field on day one after bowling just eight overs. His absence left a void in the Karnataka attack, which struggled to make consistent breakthroughs.