Bengal coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla on Sunday dismissed speculation surrounding Mohammed Shami’s absence from the team’s Ranji Trophy Group C second-round match against Services, saying the senior fast bowler was fit and had himself asked to be rested after bowling a heavy workload in the previous round.
Shami was expected to lead Bengal’s pace attack in their second match of the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season, with Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar unavailable owing to India A commitments.
However, the 36-year-old was not included in the playing XI for the match at the Palam ground in New Delhi.
Shami had been a key figure for Bengal in the previous Ranji Trophy season, taking 37 wickets in seven matches at an average of 16.72. He claimed three five-wicket hauls, with his best figures being eight for 90, underlining his importance to Bengal’s red-ball attack.
“Shami is fit, he was rested. He bowled a lot of overs against Delhi in the last round. He himself asked to be rested. It also gives us options to try fresh faces,” Shukla told reporters at the end of the day’s play.
Bengal were bowled out for 184 after electing to bat, with captain Abhimanyu Easwaran top-scoring with 56.
Services reached 83 for five at stumps, trailing by 101 runs. Pradipta Pramanik and Aamir Gani picked up two wickets each for Bengal, while Shahbaz Ahmed claimed one.
Gill falters
India skipper Shubman Gill’s return to domestic cricket lasted only five balls, but Punjab captain Uday Saharan’s unbeaten 106 led the hosts to 269 for four against Chhattisgarh on Day 1 of their Elite Group B match in Mullanpur.
Opting to bat, Punjab made a solid beginning, reaching 55 for no loss through openers Vihaan Malhotra and Harnoor Singh. But both Malhotra and Harnoor departed in the space of 10 runs, as Punjab slipped to 65 for two.
However, an even bigger blow was waiting for them. Gill, who is playing the red ball games ahead of the tour of New Zealand, could not negate left-arm spinner Ajay Mandal.
Mandal’s delivery that came in with the arm beat the forward defence of Gill (1) to rearrange his stumps. Punjab were 68 for three then.
Summarised scores
In Delhi: Bengal 184 (Abhimanyu Easwaran 56; Pulkit Narang 5/63). Services 83/5 (Pradipta Pramanik 2/16).
At Mullanpur: Punjab: 269/4 in 90 overs (Uday Saharan (106 batting, Prabhsimran Singh 61, Salil Arora 38 batting; Ajay Mandal 2/60) vs Chhattisgarh.