India's experienced fast bowler Mohammed Shami has been included in the Bengal squad for the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy. On Wednesday (October 7), the Cricket Association of Bengal announced a 17-member squad for the opening match of the upcoming Ranji season; additionally, seven players have been selected as standbys. Shami is part of the main squad. Meanwhile, speculation regarding Shami's return to Team India is also intensifying.
Mohammed Shami Makes Team Return, Match to Be Played on This Day
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has made a comeback to Team India following the end of Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar's tenure. 'Bhuvi' has been included in the 'Men in Blue' squad for the T20 series against New Zealand. This decision came as a genuine surprise, as cricket experts and fans alike believed the 36-year-old would never return to the national team.
This development has also intensified speculation regarding Shami's return; however, prior to that, he has been selected for the Ranji Trophy squad.
Bengal's First Match Against Delhi
Bengal is set to play its first Ranji Trophy match against Delhi from October 11 to 14. The match will be held at the Bengal Cricket Academy ground in Kalyani. It is almost certain that Shami, who has been included in the squad, will secure a spot in the playing XI. Shami had also represented Bengal in the Ranji Trophy and other domestic tournaments last season.
Abhimanyu Easwaran Named Captain
Abhimanyu Easwaran has been handed the captaincy of the Bengal team. The 31-year-old Easwaran has been delivering consistently impressive performances in domestic cricket. Known for his patient batting in the longer format, Abhimanyu has not yet had the opportunity to make his debut for Team India, although there has often been talk of including him in the national Test squad. Meanwhile, Sudip Gharami has been entrusted with the responsibility of vice-captain.
Bengal Squad for the First Ranji Match
Abhimanyu Easwaran (Captain), Sudip Gharami (Vice-captain), Sudip Chatterjee, Abishek Porel (Wicketkeeper), Shakir Gandhi (Wicketkeeper), Ankur Paul, Sumant Gupta, Ankit Shukla, Shubham Chatterjee, Mohammed Shami, Akash Deep, Mukesh Kumar, Suraj Jaiswal, Pradipta Pramanik, Aamir Gani, Mohammed Kaif, and Soumyadeep Mandal.
- Standby Players: Karan Lal, Akhilesh Yadav, Geet Puri, Abhishek Raman, Shubham Sarkar, Sumit Mohanta, and Aditya Purohit.
