Mohammed Shami HAUNTS Ajit Agarkar again with another Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy masterclass after India snub

Team India fast bowler Mohammed Shami impressed with his bowling performance against Haryana during the final group stage match of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The right-arm fast bowler picked up four wickets for 30 runs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Monday, December 8.

Shami’s performances in domestic cricket have raised concerns about his absence from the national team. He remains one of the most effective fast bowlers in the country with match-winning spells and clear signs of top form. However, there is still no clarity on why he hasn’t been recalled into the team’s setup.

Mohammed Shami Shines With 4/30 as Bengal Restrict Haryana to 191

Mohammed Shami delivered a brilliant bowling performance against Haryana. However, Bengal conceded 191 runs for nine wickets in 20 overs.

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Shami finished with figures of 4/30 in his four overs. The Haryana batters showed good control when targeting the other bowlers, and the remaining five wickets were shared among the rest of the attack.

Shami removed Sumit Kumar and Ashish Siwach in the 18th over, and then picked up two more wickets off the final two balls of the innings. His strikes at the death helped restrict Haryana to a lower total than expected.

Mohammed Shami Yet to Play for India Since Champions Trophy 2025 Final

Mohammed Shami has not played for India since the Champions Trophy final in March 2025. Notably, he finished that tournament as one of the team’s top wicket-takers. However, he was not considered for the tours of England and Australia, as well as the home series against the West Indies and South Africa.

Shami has shown full fitness and strong form for Bengal, taking wickets in the Ranji Trophy and performing well in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. This has raised doubts about whether “fitness concerns” were ever the real reason for his exclusion.

The selectors seem more focused on grooming younger fast bowlers like Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana for the T20 World Cup in 2026 and the ODI edition in 2027. The selectors and team management appear to be moving away from him in the current setup.

India Begin T20I Series Against South Africa

India are set to begin their five-match T20I series against South Africa on December 9 in their preparation for the 2026 World Cup. Suryakumar Yadav will continue as captain, and Shubman Gill has been named his deputy for the tour.

Gill hurt his neck during the first Test in Kolkata. He managed only a brief stay at the crease before retiring hurt and was unavailable for the remainder of the match. The injury also ruled him out of the second Test in Guwahati, where India suffered a heavy defeat and lost the series.

Gill has been included in the T20I squad, with the board making it clear that he can play only if he clears the medical checks. The series will be played across five venues, Cuttack, New Chandigarh, Dharamsala, Lucknow and Ahmedabad, from December 9 to 19.

Also read: Steve Smith justifies 'angry' Nathan Lyon’s axing in Gabba Test, declares Michael Neser 'more valuable'