It’s been eight months since Mohammed Shami last took the field wearing India's jersey. He has been out of the team since the 2025 Champions Trophy victory. He was sidelined due to injury, and despite playing well in domestic cricket afterwards, he hasn't returned. This time in the ongoing Ranji Trophy, he is playing in one of his best forms, playing for Bengal. Following this, his chances of returning to the national team have brightened.
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Before starting Bengal's Ranji campaign, Mohammed Shami had informed at a press conference that no one had taken updates from him regarding his fitness condition. Without taking names, he had taken a dig at Ajit Agarkar because Ajit Agarkar had stated regarding Shami's injury that he had no updates about it. This time, after that statement, the selectors got into action. RP Singh, a member of Ajit Agarkar's selection committee, had a lengthy discussion with Shami at Eden Gardens.
RP Singh has recently joined Ajit Agarkar's selection committee. He is currently in Kolkata to watch the Bengal versus Gujarat match in the Ranji Trophy. There, after the second day's match, RP Singh and Mohammed Shami were seen discussing at length.
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In the first match of the Ranji Trophy against Uttarakhand, Shami took a total of seven wickets across both innings. In the second match against Gujarat in the first innings, he took three wickets and conceded only 44 runs. He bowled with an economy rate of 2.37.
The South Africa series lies ahead. After RP Singh's lengthy discussion with Shami, it is hoped that he might get an opportunity against the Proteas. However, no detailed information has been disclosed about this matter.
