Bengal head coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla is disappointed that Mohammed Shami could not make a comeback to India's Test team before announcing his retirement from the format.
Shukla said he and many others wanted the senior fast bowler to return to the Indian team and end his Test career while wearing the India jersey. However, he felt that fate had other plans for the 36-year-old pacer. Shami announced his retirement from Test cricket on Friday night, bringing an end to a 13-year career in which he picked up 229 wickets in 64 matches, including six five-wicket hauls. Shami last played a Test for India in the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia. Despite not being part of India's Test plans since then, he continued to play domestic cricket for Bengal.
“Despite all of that, playing and practising for Bengal for the last two years in Ranji Trophy, Mushtaq Ali, and Vijay Hazare - I mean, you are the best, Shami. “You are outstanding. We all wanted you to have a comeback in the Test team and retire from there. But God did not accept it. Despite that, you are the best,” Shukla said in a video posted on his Instagram account.
Shukla praises Shami's hard work
The former India all-rounder also praised Shami for the hard work he put in for Bengal despite having played international cricket for many years. Shukla said he had rarely seen a fast bowler work so hard for domestic cricket after achieving so much at the international level.
“Outstanding Mohammed Shami. A wonderful record in Test cricket for a wonderful player and human being. “I would like to share one more thing with all of you that Mohammed Shami has put so much effort. I have not seen a fast bowler working so hard for domestic cricket games after playing so many international matches and taking many wickets in Tests, One-days and T20s,” he said.
Shami has been one of India's most successful fast bowlers, especially on overseas tours. He picked up 145 wickets in 41 away Tests at an average of 30.33. At home, he was even more effective, taking 76 wickets at an average of 22.1.
'You started with us in the red ball'
Shukla also recalled Shami's early days in Bengal cricket and how he moved from the state's Under-23 team straight into the Ranji Trophy. The Bengal coach said he was the captain when Shami first joined the senior team and was happy to see how far the fast bowler had come.
“I remember the day when you came to our Bengal nets for U23 games. You played Ranji Trophy directly from there. Our selectors were there and I was the captain at that time. You played from there and I was the captain that time and now the coach here,” he said.
Shukla also spoke about Shami's strong connection with Bengal cricket and said his journey in red-ball cricket had come full circle.
“You started with us in the red ball and now your Test match career ended with us. Our association is also very good. They have always supported you a lot. What you have done for Bengal is amazing. Mohammed Shami is and will always be a great inspiration. Love you, my brother. See you soon.”
Shami to continue playing white-ball cricket
Although Shami has retired from Tests, he will continue to play white-ball cricket. The fast bowler has been named in Bengal's 19-member squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which begins on November 14. Bengal will start its campaign against Karnataka at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 14. Bengal are placed in Elite Group A along with Karnataka, Chandigarh, Jharkhand, Mizoram, Baroda, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. All the league matches in the group will be played in Mumbai.
