Shami sits out Bengal's 60-run win over Services and says his fitness is fine

Mohammed Shami sat out Bengal's 60-run win over Services at Palam and said afterwards that there was no issue with his fitness

Bengal took their second win of the Ranji Trophy season on Tuesday, bowling Services out for 148 in pursuit of 209 at the Palam A Stadium in Delhi. Pradipta Pramanik took 4-48 and Shahbaz Ahmed 3-44.

The bowler missing from the win was the one everyone wanted to discuss. Shami, left out of India's squads for the tour of New Zealand, did not play any part in the match, and Bengal named his younger brother Mohammad Kaif in his place.

He came to the post-match press conference instead, and used it to put the questions about his body to rest.

A low-scoring match at Palam

Bengal won the toss, chose to bat and were bowled out for 184, with captain Abhimanyu Easwaran top-scoring on 56. Fifteen wickets fell on the opening day.

Services could not use the invitation. They were dismissed for 122, Pramanik and Aamir Gani taking two apiece on day one, and Bengal led by 62 on first innings.

The lead did not grow comfortably. Bengal were bowled out a second time for 146, leaving Services 209 to win and two days to get them.

Services fall away after lunch

Services began the third morning on 12 for 0, needing 197 more, and reached 92 for 3 at lunch with the match still open.

Nitin Tanwar held the innings together for 49 from 107 balls, but Shubham Rohilla went for 19 and Rajat Paliwal for 6, and the lower order had nothing left.

The last seven wickets fell for 56 runs. Pramanik's left-arm spin did most of the damage, Shahbaz Ahmed took three, and Services were all out for 148.

Why Shami did not play

Bengal head coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla had addressed the absence on the opening day. "Shami is fit, he was rested. He bowled a lot of overs against Delhi last round," he told reporters.

Shukla said the decision had come from the player. "He himself asked to be rested. He is a cheetah," the coach said, adding that "Shami resting also gives us options to try fresh faces".

Bengal were already without Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar, both on India A duty, so the attack that defended 209 was a young one.

Shami answers the fitness questions

Shami said the surface, rather than his condition, had settled it. "There is no point in playing on this wicket for two to four overs," he said. "It is better to give opportunities to the youngsters and those who need experience in the team."

He was firm about the rest. "As far as bowling is concerned, I have bowled for one and a half hours today," he said. "There is no issue with my fitness."

It was not the first time he had been asked. After the opening round against Delhi, where he took 4-30 from 17.3 overs with nine maidens, he told reporters: "You can see my fitness. Write it. You are watching me."

Outside India's plans for now

Shami last played for India in the 2025 Champions Trophy final and was overlooked again when the selectors picked the squads for New Zealand.

Asked whether the 2027 ODI World Cup was a target, he declined to look that far. "The 2027 World Cup is a year away," he said. "There is no point in thinking so far ahead."

His answer came back to the same ground. "I always say that your focus should be on your skills and your fitness," he said.

Scorecard: Bengal 184 and 146 beat Services 122 and 148 by 60 runs at the Palam A Stadium, Delhi.

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