Mohammed Shami picked up a five-wicket haul (10-0-38-5) for Bengal on Tuesday (October 28) to help them win their second Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match against Gujarat by 141 runs at Eden Gardens. The 35-year-old right-arm pacer from Amroha, who represents Bengal in domestic cricket, produced a super show with the ball to bowl Gujarat out for just 185 runs in reply to a 327-run target. After Shami played a big role in Bengal’s second win in a row, Bengal’s head coach, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, praised him and said that he is fit from every angle.
According to Shukla, Shami doesn’t need anyone’s certificate, and he will soon make a comeback for Team India.
“The world has seen what Mohammed Shami is. If you see his earlier run-up and now, after taking
500 wickets, both are the same. That’s his greatness. He doesn’t need anyone’s certificate. He will come back to the Indian team. He is fit from every angle,” Shukla was quoted as saying by Sportstar on Tuesday.
Shami, who hasn’t played a Test match for India since featuring in the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at The Oval, also spoke to reporters after taking a five-wicket haul and added that he still has a lot of cricket left in him.
“The time of the injury (after the 2023 World Cup) comes back to my memory again and again. I was in a lot of pain, went through rehab and returned to competitive cricket. I feel as healthy as ever. I still have a lot of cricket left in me. After the surgery, everything seemed to be over. Now I feel relieved,” Shami said.
Shami, who also dismissed three batters for 44 runs in the first innings against Gujarat and finished with a total of seven wickets (3 in the first innings and 4 in the second innings) against Uttarakhand in Bengal’s first Ranji match of the ongoing season, said he has no hesitation in proving himself again.
“There’s nothing wrong in proving oneself. After coming back from injury, one has to build himself up by playing domestic cricket. If you want to play for your country, you have to be in the best rhythm.”
“I believe in destiny. Everyone wants to play for the country. I am ready.”
