Comeback on the cards? Mohammed Shami included in Bengal's Ranji Trophy squad after India snub

Mohammed Shami was a notable name missing from India’s squads for the Australia tour.

After being left out of India‘s white-ball tour of Australia, fast bowler Mohammed Shami is poised to play in Bengal’s Ranji Trophy campaign.

Shami, one of the best fast bowlers of the contemporary age, has been nominated to Bengal’s 18-man squad for the primary domestic red-ball competition.

Shami has not played for India since the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final in March. Moreover, the chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar has stated in his press conferences that Shami has not played enough domestic cricket to be selected for the Indian team.

Sources close to Shami told India Today in September that the fast bowler’s camp is hurt by the treatment he has received.

Bengal announce squad for upcoming Ranji Trophy 2025-26 squad; Mohammed Shami included

Abhimanyu Easwaran returns as the Bengals’ captain after a couple of seasons. Abhimanyu, who has been unable to play consistently for Bengal due to India A commitments, is expected to lead the strong team, which has underperformed in recent years.

Easwaran was deprived of his Bengal leadership halfway through the 2022-23 season due to poor form and India A commitments. The top-order batsman has served as a reserve for the Indian test team for the past three years but has yet to make his debut.

Bengal have also included keeper-batter Abishek Porel. In the batting lineup, the young Sudip Kumar Gharami, the seasoned Anustup Majumdar, and Sudip Chatterjee will be essential. On the huge stage, young players Rahul Prasad, Saurabh Kr Singh, and Vishal Bhati will try to perform well.

Akash Deep and Ishan Porel will lead the pacer attack for Bengal. Laxmi Ratan Shukla will continue to be the team’s head coach, with Arup Bhattacharjee and Shib Shankar Paul assisting him. Charanjit Singh Matharu is the side’s fielding coach.

Bengal will open their Ranji Trophy 2025-26 campaign against Uttarakhand at the Eden Gardens on October 15, followed by Gujarat in their second match at home on October 25.

Bengal Ranji Trophy Squad: Abhimanyu Easwaran (Captain), Abishek Porel (Vice-Captain/WK), Sudip Kumar Gharami, Anustup Majumdar, Sudip Chatterjee, Sumanta Gupta, Saurabh Kr Singh, Vishal Bhati, Mohammed Shami, Akash Deep, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Shakir Habib Gandhi (WK), Ishan Porel, Kazi Junaid Saifi, Rahul Prasad, Sumit Mohanta, Vikash Singh.

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