Mohammed Shami did Mohammed Shami things again for Bengal in a domestic cricket match; that is, taking wickets. On Day 1 of the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season against Delhi at Kalyani, the experienced pacer picked 4 wickets for 30 runs in 17.3 overs, which included nine maidens.
After the day, Shami sounded a bit frustrated, as well as sarcastic, at not getting the much-desired national team call-up, despite putting in a lot of hard work across domestic tournaments. At the same time, he backs Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is also 36, for making his way back into the Men in Blue dressing room for the T20I series against New Zealand.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar set to play against New Zealand in T20Is
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been named in the T20I squad for the upcoming T20I series against the Blackcaps. His national team call-up comes after a couple of solid Indian Premier League (IPL) seasons, where he helped the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to claim their maiden IPL trophy in 2025, and then defend the title successfully in 2026.
Shami was not very decorative in the past two IPL seasons, but his number with the Bengal cricket team speaks a lot about his form and performance in the recent past. The bowler had multiple injury setbacks, including a chronic right Achilles tendon and ankle injury in 2023, which led to major surgery. Since returning from the injury lay-off, he has been in form.
Mohammed Shami on his fitness after taking 4 wickets for Bengal
After a 14-month recovery period, he made his comeback in early 2025. Mohammed Shami played his last match for the India National Cricket Team on March 9, 2025, in an ODI match against New Zealand.
Now it is October 2026, and doubts remain about the Bengal pacer’s fitness. Yesterday, when the reporters asked Shami about his fitness, his reply came with some esr frustration: “You can see my fitness. Write it. You are watching me. What will happen if I say it? I am on the ground. I am playing. I am playing wherever I can.”
Bhuvi should have been picked a long time ago – Mohammed Shami
Shami welcomed the selectors’ decision to pick Bhuvneshwar Kumar again for an international series. He believed that Kumar should have been called up a long time ago.
“Bhuvi should have been picked a long time ago. He doesn’t talk to anyone. He is not like that. It doesn’t mean that you should stop a talent for a long time. It’s good for him. He has delivered back-to-back performances in the IPL, so he deserves it,” Mohammed Shami said.
“He has come back after a long time. If someone is doing hard work, if he has potential, why shouldn’t he do it?” He continued.
Like Kumar, Shami also delivered well in the last year, and he bowled well in the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy opener as well. Then did he not get the call from the national team selectors? Mohammed Shami responded sarcastically, saying, “No, no, I’m not a good bowler.”
