By Atreyo Mukhopadhyay in Kolkata
Fire in the belly speaks a thousand words. Mohammed Shami avoided making controversial remarks after putting in a stellar performance for Bengal against Gujarat in a Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match. Thanks to the veteran fast bowler’s five-wicket haul at Eden Gardens, the home team posted a 141-run win, which didn’t seem likely at the start of the final day’s play. The pitch hadn’t deteriorated much and taking 10 wickets in less than a day looked difficult after Bengal batted for half an hour in the morning.
Shami struck with the first ball of the innings and had Abhishek Desai caught behind. Gujarat offered resistance after that and went along at almost seven runs per over chasing an unlikely victory target of 327. They lost two more wickets in quick succession to slump to 50/3 and there was another partnership that followed. Urvil Patel was the man taking the battle to the Bengal camp and Jaymeet Patel was keeping him company. Urvil completed a strokeful century at a run-a-ball, but retired hurt soon after because of cramps. Bengal and Shami ran through the rest of the line-up and when Urvil came back, he had little to do.
Shami was used in short spells. He bowled three overs in the beginning and came back for three more. The match started turning in his third spell. He had been lethal against left-handers in this match and was on the money all the time during this period. The ball was cutting back into the left-handers who had no answer to the subtlety of movement, the pace and the control of the bowler. He took 5/38 from 10 overs to finish the match with eight wickets. In two games this season, he has taken 15 wickets.
“Playing for Bengal is my motivation because whatever I am today is because of this team,” said Shami. “Of course, I have other thoughts like playing for India, but at the moment I am doing what I can. I will try my best to perform and with a little bit of luck, who knows what will happen. I don’t think I have anything to prove to anybody. I have played long enough and those who have to evaluate me have seen me. Let them decide,” he replied when asked about returning to the Indian team.
A few days ago, chief selector Ajit Agarkar had said that Shami’s ability was not in doubt, his fitness was. The bowler was reminded of this and he didn’t sound aggressive. “I have played a lot of red- and white-ball cricket after my surgery following the 2023 World Cup. One has to be in peak condition to get selected for India. Physically and mentally, I am feeling great. You need hard work, loyalty to your team, game awareness and a bit of luck to succeed. At the moment, things are looking good. The rest is not in my hands.”
National selector RP Singh was at Eden Gardens on all four days of this match and although Gujarat are not the strongest of opponents, Shami’s condition, hunger and skill were there for all to see. The team for the Test series against South Africa will be announced soon and India are looking for a third pacer to accompany Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. The third pacer will be required also if the team management wants to rest and rotate Bumrah and Siraj. Shami would like to think that he is in the race.
Bengal owed their second successive win also to Shahbaz Ahmed. After taking six wickets in the first innings, the left-handed all-rounder struck vital blows in the second. Immediately after Urvil retired hurt, the spinner took two wickets in one over to put Bengal on top. With a match haul of 9/94, Shahbaz beat Shami to the Player of the Match award. Winner of this prize in the previous match, Shami shouldn’t complain though. He has done what he had to without saying a word.
Brief scores: Bengal 279 & 214/8 decl (Anustup Majumdar 58, Sudip Gharami 54, Siddharth Desai 5/61). Gujarat 167 & 185 (Urvil Patel 109 not out, Mohammed Shami 5/38, Shahbaz Ahmed 3/60). Bengal won by 141 runs.
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