Mohammed Shami's 4-30 and twin hundreds put Bengal ahead of Delhi in Kalyani

Mohammed Shami took 4-30 to help bowl Delhi out for 240 in Bengal's Ranji Trophy opener, then said the questions about his fitness no longer bother him

Bengal won the toss at the Bengal Cricket Academy Ground in Kalyani, chose to bowl, and had Delhi out for 240 inside 77.3 overs.

Shami led the attack with 4-30 from 17.3 overs, nine of them maidens, in the first Elite Group C match of the season.

By the second afternoon Bengal had turned that into a lead, reaching 304 for 3 on the back of unbeaten hundreds from Abishek Porel and Sudip Kumar Gharami.

Nine maidens in a 17.3-over spell

Shami removed Ayush Doseja, Yash Dhull, Hrithik Shokeen and Divij Mehra, conceding at 1.70 an over across a spell that gave Delhi nothing to work with.

Shokeen top-scored for the visitors with 56 from 98 balls, and Doseja made 45 from 92. Sarthak Ranjan's 33 from 80 was the only other innings of substance.

Off-spinner Aamir Gani finished with 3-45, Akash Deep took 2-74 from 17 overs and Mukesh Kumar 1-43 from the same number.

Delhi's innings did not survive the opening day, the last wicket falling in the 78th over, and Bengal's four bowlers shared all ten between them.

Shami answers the fitness questions

Shami has not played for India since the 2025 Champions Trophy final, and the gap has been filled by a running commentary on whether his body is still up to international cricket.

"People perhaps enjoy looking and passing comments more," he said after the day's play. "They say the rhythm isn't there, that he doesn't look fit, or whatever else."

He said the criticism does not reach him. "It doesn't bother me. I'm on the ground, I'm playing, and I'm playing wherever I'm given a chance," he said. "The rest is your job."

The Champions Trophy final remains his last appearance in India colours, and he has spent the period since it in Bengal's attack.

Left out again as Bhuvneshwar returns

The spell came days after Shami was left out of India's T20I squad for the series against New Zealand, a squad that brought Bhuvneshwar Kumar back after four years away.

Shami said he had stopped arguing his case. "I have stopped making such comments. It makes no difference to me," he said. "Now, whoever wants to do whatever, let them. My job is just to play."

On Bhuvneshwar's recall he was warm. "A person should keep going on hope alone," he said. "I'm happy for him because this has come after such a long time."

India's chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, has said Shami would have been considered for selection had he been fit enough. Shami's answer has been to keep playing four-day cricket and to argue that it should count.

His previous statement of intent came in the same competition, a career-best 8-90 against Jammu & Kashmir in last season's Ranji Trophy semi-final.

Porel and Gharami build the lead

Bengal's reply was slower and far more settled than Delhi's innings had been.

Gharami was unbeaten on 122 from 221 balls when the lead reached 64, with Porel on 114 from 161 at the other end.

The pair were still together at 304 for 3 after 79 overs, Bengal having passed Delhi's total with seven first-innings wickets in hand.

Where the match stands

Bengal lead by 64 runs with two days of the match left at Kalyani.

Delhi have taken three wickets in 79 overs since being bowled out, and will bat last on a pitch going into its third and fourth days.

Scorecard: Delhi 240 (Hrithik Shokeen 56, Mohammed Shami 4-30, Aamir Gani 3-45); Bengal 304 for 3 (Sudip Kumar Gharami 122 not out, Abishek Porel 114 not out), lead by 64 runs.

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