India pacer Mohammed Shami has been named in Bengal’s 50-man probables list for the upcoming 2025–26 domestic season. The 34-year-old, currently sidelined from India’s tour of England due to fitness concerns, has not featured in competitive cricket since the IPL 2025, where he turned out for Sunrisers Hyderabad but struggled to find his rhythm.Shami last played for India during their triumphant 2025 Champions Trophy campaign, finishing as the joint-highest wicket-taker for the team alongside Varun Chakaravarthy, with nine wickets each.
His injury troubles, however, date back to the 2023 ODI World Cup, where he emerged as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 24 dismissals before undergoing ankle surgery.He made a strong comeback in domestic cricket, playing a key role in Bengal’s 11-run win over Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy. Shami picked up seven wickets in the match and contributed a vital 37 runs with the bat.
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He also returned to international action in 2024, featuring in four white-ball matches against England. However, he was not considered for selection in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test series in England. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar clarified that Shami wasn’t deemed fit enough to handle the physical demands of Test-match bowling. His last Test appearance came in the World Test Championship final against Australia in June 2023.Joining Shami in Bengal’s extensive probables list are notable names like Abhimanyu Easwaran, Akash Deep, Mukesh Kumar, Shahbaz Ahmed, and Abishek Porel.
