Mohammed Shami issues reminder to Agarkar, Gambhir [Source: AFP]Veteran fast bowler Mohammed Shami issued a strong reminder to the Ajit Agarkar-led BCCI selection committee and the Indian team management headed by Gautam Gambhir for his selection into the Test side with a sublime spell in the Ranji Trophy. The ace speedster played a pivotal role for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy semifinal against Jammu and Kashmir, scalping a spectacular five-wicket haul. Mohammed Shami bags key wickets for Bengal in Ranji Trophy semifinalAfter winning the toss, Jammu and Kashmir elected to bowl first in the Ranji Trophy semifinal against Bengal. Although Auqib Nabi sustained his purple patch and scalped five wickets, Bengal managed to breach the 300-run mark, courtesy of a valiant hundred from Sudeep Gharami. Captain Abhimanyu Easwaran contributed 49 crucial runs to Bengal's tally, with Shahbaz Ahmed and Sumanta Gupta chipping in with valuable knocks. In reply, Jammu and Kashmir had the worst possible start to their innings, as Mohammed Shami scripted their top-order collapse by dismissing both the openers. While Paras Dogra and Abdul Samad consolidated the innings with fighting fifties, Shami returned for another game-breaking spell, scalping four more wickets in quick succession. Thus, his spell put Bengal on the driving seat, leaving Jammu and Kashmir in a state of disarray in the high-profile encounter. Mohammed Shami issues check-mate to Gambhir, Agarkar with Ranji heroicsExperienced fast bowler Mohammed Shami has consistently been ignored by the BCCI selection committee after India's 2025 Champions Trophy victory. The talismanic pacer sustained an ankle injury that derailed his international career after he starred in the 2023 World Cup by scalping the most wickets for India in the tournament. Although Shami made a comeback and bagged a fifer during India's triumphant Champions Trophy campaign, the BCCI selection committee, chaired by Ajit Agarkar, continuously ignored him, citing fitness concerns. In fact, Mohammed Shami was removed from the Central Contracts, which the BCCI recently revealed, demoting Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to Grade B. However, despite the Gautam Gambhir-led management and the BCCI selection committee ignoring him, Shami continues to shine for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26. The fast bowler showcased remarkable form in the all-important semifinal, dismantling Jammu and Kashmir with a magical five-wicket haul. Overall, he has enjoyed stellar success in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season, scalping 34 wickets, including three five-wicket hauls, in just 12 innings at a superb strike rate of 38. When did Mohammed Shami play his last Test for India?Despite showcasing consistency and red-hot form in the domestic circuit, Mohammed Shami hasn't got an opportunity to represent the Indian Test side for quite a while now. His final red-ball appearance for the national team came when he featured in the World Test Championship final against Australia at the Oval. Shami is one of the most successful Test bowlers for India, having bagged 229 wickets in 64 matches in the format. Considering his Ranji Trophy performance, there's a possibility of his comeback to the Test team for the Sri Lanka series.
