Mohammed Shami produced a sensational bowling performance in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy semifinal between Bengal and Jammu & Kashmir at the Bengal Cricket Ground in Kalyani on Tuesday, February 17. The pacer picked up an eight-wicket haul despite not being in contention for selection in the Indian team.
Shami led Bengal’s fightback with a disciplined bowling effort in the Ranji Trophy match against Jammu & Kashmir. Jammu & Kashmir were 302 all out in 76.1 overs, with Auqib Nabi (42) the last batter dismissed. Shami finished with an impressive eight-wicket haul to help Bengal take a 26-run first-innings lead.
Mohammed Shami Delivers Career-Best Spell as Bengal Take First-Innings Lead
Mohammed Shami produced the best bowling performance of his first-class career, finishing with figures of 8/90 against Jammu & Kashmir. Bengal bowled out the opposition for 302, taking a 26-run first-innings lead.
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Jammu & Kashmir had a poor start, losing three wickets for 13 runs. However, Abdul Samad and Paras Dogra counterattacked. Samad scored a quick 82 off 85 balls, while Dogra added 58, and the pair stitched together a 140-run partnership.
Bengal struck back when Samad was caught at cover off Shami, and soon after, Dogra fell to Mukesh. The innings slipped to 153/5, but Kanhaiya Wadhawan and Abid Mushtaq added 45 runs.
Shami then took control with the new ball the next morning, removing Abid Mushtaq, Kanhaiya Wadhawan, and Vanshaj Sharma to reduce Jammu & Kashmir to 231/8. Auqib Nabi and Yudhvir Singh added 64 runs for the ninth wicket before Shami ended the resistance by dismissing Yudhvir.
Mohammed Shami Receives Praise From Teammates and Coaches
Mohammed Shami earned praise from teammates and members of the coaching staff, including Laxmi Ratan Shukla and Shib Shankar Paul, who congratulated him as he walked into the dressing room. The session ended with lunch on Day 3.
Best Bowling Figures for Bengal in an Innings in First-Class Cricket:
| Bowling Figures | Player | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/20 | Premangsu Chatterjee | Assam | Jorhat | 1957 |
| 8/46 | Durga Shankar Mukherjee | Bihar | Jamshedpur | 1960 |
| 8/54 | Utpal Chatterjee | Hyderabad | Eden Gardens | 2003 |
| 8/59 | Premangsu Chatterjee | Madhya Pradesh | Eden Gardens | 1956 |
| 8/90 | Mohammed Shami | Jammu & Kashmir | Kalyani | 2026 (This Match) |
Mohammed Shami Shines in Domestic Cricket Despite India Snub
Shami has enjoyed a strong domestic season across formats. Last month, he picked up a five-wicket haul against Services, finishing with 5/51 in the second innings. So far, he has taken 36 wickets in seven matches, including three five-wicket hauls.
The 35-year-old also impressed in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he claimed 15 wickets in seven games at an economy rate of 6.09. He was left out of the recent ODI series against New Zealand and the 2026 T20 World Cup. Mohammed Siraj was named as a replacement for the injured Harshit Rana.
Shami also missed out on a 2025-26 BCCI central contract, and his last appearance for India came at the 2025 Champions Trophy. After the Ranji Trophy, he is set to return to action with Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2026.
