Did Irfan Pathan Just Praise Shami for His Incredible 8/90 in the Ranji Trophy Semi-Final?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Kalyani, Feb 17 (NationPress) Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has expressed his admiration for Mohammed Shami following the pacer's stunning achievement of an 8-wicket haul for Bengal against Jammu and Kashmir in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2025-26 semi-final at the Bengal Cricket Academy Ground.
Shami has been consistently delivering impressive performances in the domestic arena, showcasing his match-winning abilities for Bengal. Utilizing his swing and pace, he quickly dismantled both openers with the new ball. He achieved his five-wicket haul in the 59th over by claiming the wicket of Kanhaiya Wadhwan, who was in excellent form.
The right-arm fast bowler completed his 8-wicket haul by dismissing Jammu and Kashmir’s Aaqib Nabi in the 77th over, achieving his career-best figures of 8/90.
Pathan pointed out the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026, where Shami is absent from the Indian squad, while also commending the pacer's remarkable performance.
“While the World Cup is ongoing, one of India’s premier fast bowlers @MdShami11 is making waves in the Ranji Trophy with 8 wickets in the semi-final,” he posted on X.
Last month, Shami had also secured a five-wicket haul against Services, finishing with figures of 5/51 in the second innings. In total, the 35-year-old has claimed 38 wickets across seven matches, including three five-fors, solidifying his status as one of the standout bowlers this season for Bengal.
Despite his impressive performances, Shami has not been included in India’s squad over the past year. His last appearance for the Men in Blue was during the Champions Trophy 2025, where he played a pivotal role in the team’s victory with nine wickets.
Thanks to Shami’s exceptional performance, the Bengal cricket team established a lead of 26 runs in the first innings. However, they were bowled out for a mere 99 runs in the second innings, setting a target of 126 runs for Jammu and Kashmir, as they aim to make history by reaching their first-ever Ranji Trophy final.