Mohammed Shami Takes 4 Wickets Against Delhi in Ranji Trophy, Responds to Questions Over His Fitness
Indian pacer Mohammed Shami made a statement performance for Bengal against Delhi in the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 season by grabbing 4 wickets on the opening day. Shami bowled 17.3 overs in the match to register the impressive figures of 4/30 in the process. He answered all the questions regarding his fitness in the sport with his performance on the field.
Shami has not played for India since the 2025 Champions Trophy, and he was desperate to re-emerge on the international scene. Shami has created quite a buzz for his remarkable performance in the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 against Delhi.
Mohammed Shami Speaks About His Fitness After Stellar Performance
Mohammed Shami played a sensational role on Day 1 of the Ranji Trophy match between Bengal and Delhi by picking up four wickets. He was successful in dismissing Ayush Doseja, Yash Dhull and Hrithik Shokeen.
Speaking about his fitness after the stellar performance, Shami reacted to the criticism with a composed smile. The veteran cricketer mentioned that he pays no heed to the criticism and focuses on his game.
Shami said
“People perhaps enjoy looking and passing comments more. They say the rhythm isn’t there, that he doesn’t look fit, or whatever else. It doesn’t bother me. I’m on the ground, I’m playing, and I’m playing wherever I’m given a chance. The rest is your job."
Shami seems to be ready to grab any opportunity that comes his way in order to prove his critics wrong. Shami’s four-wicket haul in the Bengal vs Delhi game was enough to prove that he can still do the business when given a chance.
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Mohammed Shami's Fitness Controversy With Team India
Shami was in the headlines for the wrong reason since he sustained a heel injury during the 2023 ODI World Cup. He took too long to recover from the injury and faced more challenges before resuming cricket in 2025.
Even though Shami made a comeback on the domestic front, he was not considered for inclusion in the Indian team on numerous occasions. Shami and the selectors were at loggerheads with each other after Team India chief selector Ajit Agarkar mentioned that Shami would have been considered for the series if he was fit enough.
Shami, on the other hand, argued that the fact that he continued playing four-day Ranji Trophy games for Bengal and bowled effectively should also be kept in mind while considering his selection for the 50-over format.
Shami has been battling the selectors for quite some time now. Despite the criticism, Shami will continue to perform his best. Now, the veteran pacer will need more than one excellent performance to convince India’s selectors that he deserves to play for the senior team.