8-90: Out-of-favour star India quick shines with career-best spell in Ranji Trophy semi-final

Mohammed Shami takes first eight-wicket haul of career

Now 35, Shami ran through the Jammu & Kashmir batting lineup, almost single-handedly bowling Bengal to a first-innings lead in the semi-final in Kalyani.

After being put in to bat, Bengal had posted 328 on the board riding on Sudip Kumar Gharami's 146. Auqib Nabi picked his third consecutive five-for for J&K, taking his tally to 17 wickets in three innings across the quarter- and semi-finals. But he was outbowled by the veteran India quick soon after.

Shami first removed both J&K openers in the first seven overs before Mukesh Kumar got rid of No.3 Shubham Pundir to leave them reeling at 13-3. Captain Paras Dogra (58) and Abdul Samad (82) rescued the innings but fell in the space of three deliveries as J&K were pegged back to 156-5.

The lower order formed crucial little partnerships, the most important of them being the ninth-wicket stand between Nabi (42) and Yudhvir Singh (33) that took them from 231-8 to 295-9, threatening to overhaul Bengal's total. But Shami cleaned up the stumps of both the J&K pacers just in time to complete his first-ever eight-wicket haul in professional cricket and bowl them out for 302. The other two wickets belonged to another out-of-favour India quick, Mukesh Kumar, who picked up 2-78.

Shami's eight-for follows a swashbuckling half-century in the quarter-final against Andhra and another five-for against Services in the last league game, outlining his productive form. Overall, he has picked up 36 wickets in 12 innings at 16.52 in Ranji Trophy 2025/26, second only behind Nabi among fast bowlers.

Also read: First in four years: Mohammed Shami responds to India non-selection with Ranji Trophy five-for

Shami last played a Test match for India in the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia, while his last international outing in any format came in the 2025 Champions Trophy final against New Zealand. Since then, he has given several interviews claiming he's fit and available for selection, but hasn't been able to break through any India squad.

Also read: Why Mohammed Shami, India's back-from-the-dead ICC champion, is such a prolific bowler

Mohammed Shami's best figures in first-class cricket

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