Bengal coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla compared Mohammed Shami‘s return to competitive cricket in the ongoing Ranji Trophy to a fairy tale. The former India cricketer remarked that he had never seen a fast bowler make such a strong comeback after a year-long absence.
Shami had been sidelined due to an ankle injury since the 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia on November 19. He underwent surgery in February to repair his Achilles tendon, followed by a lengthy rehabilitation period.
After much uncertainty over his recovery, the 34-year-old was cleared to play for Bengal in their Ranji Trophy 2024-25 match against Madhya Pradesh in Indore, which began on November 13. On Day 1, Shami appeared rusty, bowling two spells that were economical but lacked precision and effectiveness.
The experienced fast bowler elevated his performance on Day 2, taking four wickets to finish with figures of 4-54 from 19 overs in the first innings. Commenting on Shami’s return to competitive cricket after almost a year, Bengal coach Shukla said (as quoted by ESPNcricinfo):
“Someone has come back after one year and has bowled 19 overs and taken so many wickets. … what’s there to say. He came into the match without doing any match simulation. Can you imagine? But obviously if he plays more, he will get better.”
“He bowled one six-over spell and one five-over spell. 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,” the former India all-rounder asserted.
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Three of Shami’s wickets in the Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh came via bowled dismissals. He clean bowled opposition captain Shubham Sharma, Saransh Jain, and Kulwant Khejroliya, while Kumar Kartikeya was dismissed caught behind.
Shami Secures Key Lead for Bengal Against MP
Madhya Pradesh put Bengal into bat, and the latter were dismissed for 228 in 51.2 overs, with Aryan Pandey and Khejroliya taking four wickets each. In reply, MP ended Day 1 at a strong 103-1.
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Comeback star Shami took center stage on Day 2, claiming four wickets to restrict MP to 167. With a vital first-innings lead of 61, Bengal ended Day 2 at 170-5, extending their advantage to 231 runs.
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