Mohammed Shami puts Agarkar on notice for SA series, after massive Ranji Trophy performance

In the Bengal vs Gujarat encounter, Mohammed Shami went on to pick eight wickets in all, in 28 overs.

In the last couple of weeks, there was a lot said by Mohammed Shami and Ajit Agarkar, over the former’s non-selection into the Indian team. The pacer had repeatedly clarified that he was fit for selection, while the chief selector had his own version, due to which Shami was not picked for the England squad.

Mohammed Shami Sinks Gujarat in Ranji Trophy

But now, it seems that Shami is slowly beginning to show, that he still has good amount of cricket left in him. First, in the Ranji Trophy encounter between Bengal and Uttarakhand, he went on to pick up seven wickets, and now has returned with eight wickets in the Gujarat match.

On Tuesday, Mohammed Shami picked up a fifer in the last innings of the match, and returned with figures of 5/38 in 10 overs to take his side to 142-run win. This performance, if at all, should be a big statement to the selection committee, who could sit together soon, to pick the India squad for the South Africa series, with the first Test due on November 14.

In India Squad for South Africa Tests?

The team is yet to be announced, and Shami’s 15 wickets would certainly put him in contention. Apart from the wickets, what really is a big consideration is, he bowled 39 overs in the first match, and here in the second, he came up with 28. So, he seems to be back to his longish spells, perhaps which was missing, ever since his comeback from injury last year.

Yes, the Indian team seems to have moved on in the pace department, with the likes of Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna starting to make a mark, but then if Shami can deliver for the next two years, until this WTC cycle gets over, he could be an asset to the Test team, in home and foreign conditions alike.