Mohammed Shami's much-awaited return to top-flight cricket did not receive too many supporting signals during the seasoned pacer's nearly hour-long stint of varying intensity at the India nets here on Friday. Despite working hard on finding his bowling rhythm, Shami never really hit his flowing peak. While he was expected to feature in the playing 11 during India's first T20I against England at Kolkata on Wednesday, the management decided to delay his comeback. Shami's rhythm and sharpness gradually hit a higher gear but the whole picture was one of rustiness, raising questions about his current form and the decision to select him for the series against England and the Champions Trophy.
It was amazing to see how he used to hoodwink batsmen with subtle changes in flight, loop and deliver his doomsday ball -- the dangerous armer.
Spurred by Chirag Jani's a five-wicket haul, defending champions Saurashtra scripted their first knockout win of the season with a 238-run thrashing of Vidarbha on the third day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match in Nagpur on Sunday.
The right-arm pacer informed about his surgery in a social media post on Tuesday. He was left out of Mumbai's 30-man probable list for the upcoming Ranji Trophy season.
Mohammed Shami, who made a stunning return to competitive cricket in the Ranji Trophy, was selected for Bengal's squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20.
Former India opener WV Raman, one of the most respected coaches in the country, feels experience will be a key factor which should go in favour of the Punjab pacer.
Narayan Jagadeesan followed up his double ton in the previous game with a magnificent triple century to help Tamil Nadu declare their first innings
India internationals Shardul Thakur and Shivam Dube starred with the ball and the bat respectively as 41-time champions Mumbai took an upperhand over Assam on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy Group B match in Mumbai on Friday.
Ranji Trophy winners, who currently get a cheque of Rs 2 crore, will be receiving Rs 5 crore, while the runners-up and losing semi-finalists will get Rs 3 crores and Rs 1 crore respectively.
Selectors will assess the fitness level of star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who is recuperating from back spasms, and veteran fast bowler Mohammed Shami.
With more than a 100 runs still to get, it would be an uphill task for Maharashtra to turn the match around on Day 3.
'Shreyas Iyer likes a challenge, tough situations, playing against the top teams.'
All-rounder Washington Sundar was on Sunday added to the India squad for the remaining two Tests against New Zealand.
After a disappointing showing in the Test series in Australia recently, the Indian team is eager to make a fresh start in the T20 format.
Shubman Gill flops as Karnataka bundle out Punjab for 55 to gain command on Day 1
Tamil Nadu lead Railways by 363 runs courtesy Jagadeesan double hundred
The 28-year-old cricketer's ODI runs came at an average of 57.86 and an impressive strike rate of 95.15.
Continuing his fine run in his comeback from ankle surgery, India pacer Mohammed Shami will be in the spotlight as Bengal face strong challenge from a rampaging Baroda in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 quarterfinal in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
Shami last played for India in the 2023 World Cup final in Ahmedabad after which he was sidelined because of an ankle injury which needed surgery.
A surprise late night call from India captain Rohit Sharma alerted Shreyas Iyer about replacing Virat Kohli in Thursday's first ODI against England.
Wriddhiman Saha will retire from cricket at the end of this year's Ranji Trophy.
'When you are scoring runs and taking wickets, everyone is standing with you.' 'But the real test is to realise who is with you during your tough times.'
K L Rahul's indifferent form could throw Cheteshwar Pujara a lifeline for the tour of Australia, where he enjoys a great record.
'Never understood how he was dropped after a triple century.'
The barren run of skipper Rohit Sharma and the selection conundrum that Virat Kohli's possible return poses are the towering obstacles in India's quest for a series win against England in the second ODI in Cuttack on Sunday.
Rohit can be seen working extensively on his batting, unleashing his signature shots including the trademark pull shots, the drives through the off-side and the straight lofted shots among others.
Seamers Shivam Dube (4/10) and Royston Dias (3/35) powered Mumbai's outright win over Bihar by an innings and 51 runs in their Ranji Trophy 2023-24 season opener in Patna on Monday.
India spinner Varun Chakravarthy on Friday equated the standards of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy to the IPL.
Skipper Arpit Vasavada hit a double century as Saurashtra took a crucial 120-run first innings lead against Karnataka
India is facing form concerns and selection dilemmas as they enter the final phase of their Champions Trophy preparations.
Veteran India pacer Mohammad Shami will be rested for Bengal's Vijay Hazare Trophy opener against Delhi on Saturday in Hyderabad, the Cricket Association of Bengal announced on Thursday.
Former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad said there are many 'laughable things' in Indian cricket and among them is the non-selection of Kerala spinner Jalaj Saxena.
With more than five months to go for the next Test series, many in the BCCI believe that there is no need to take a decision right away.
'Shami has been India's best bowler for a while. He may not get the amount of wickets Jasprit Bumrah gets, but he's the full package and is more consistent than the rest.'
Himanshu Singh said the confidence stemming from his experience of bowling against Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma during the pre-season net sessions in Chennai is now reflecting in his outings in the Ranji Trophy.
Rohit Sharma's poor form in red-ball cricket continued as he fell for a 19-ball 3 before Mumbai conceded a first-innings lead against Jammu and Kashmir
Jaydev Unadkat claimed a match haul of nine wickets, including 6/85 in the second innings, as Saurashtra thrashed Bengal by nine wickets in the Ranji Trophy final.
Kohli could manage only 190 runs in his nine innings in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, repeatedly offering edges to the slip cordon or keeper.
This is the first time DRS will be implemented in a Ranji Trophy final and both teams will get three reviews in each innings. This comes after last season's final between Madhya Pradesh and Mumbai was mired in controversy.
Also the temperament of playing 373 balls (62.1 overs out of 116 overs) has made him stand out along with how he forged partnership with a tailender (Navdeep Saini).
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