Bengal have announced their squad for Ranji Trophy 2024-25. While veteran wicketkeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha returned to the side after a couple of seasons, star fast bowler Mohammed Shami was named in the squad. Shami is yet to regain full fitness, a week ahead of the three-Test series against New Zealand.
Shami sustained an ankle injury during ODI World Cup 2023 where he bagged the most wickets including three five-wicket hauls. After a stunning season barring the final against Australia, Shami opted for surgery. He is yet to get back to his old self on the fitness front.
Earlier, Shami had said that he won’t back down from playing domestic cricket in order to prove his fitness.
"If I need to play domestic cricket to test my fitness, I will. What matters most is being fully ready for whatever comes next, regardless of the opposition or format," Shami said last month.
The 34-year-old pacer's last Test appearance was against Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-23 final. He has a decent record against New Zealand in the red-ball format bagging 27 wickets from eight Tests.
While New Zealand announced their Test squad on October 9, India are likely to announce it on October 11.
Prominent players in Bengal’s Ranji squad –
Meanwhile, 40-year-old Anustup Majumdar will lead Bengal. Pacer Mukesh Kumar who was recently dropped from the Test squad will play in Ranji Trophy. Akash Deep has replaced him in the senior side and proved his mettle in the recently concluded two-Test series against Bangladesh. Deep is named in Bengal’s squad as well.
A few other promiment players in the side are all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed, opener Abhimanyu Easwaran and young wicketkeeper-batter Abhishek Porel. Easwaran is in good form. He scored 191 for Rest of India against Mumbai in a losing cause in Irani Cup.
Bengal’s squad for Ranji Trophy 2024-25 –
Anustup Majumdar (captain), Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sudip Gharami, Sudip Chatterjee, Wriddhiman Saha, Shahbaz Ahmed, Abishek Porel, Writtick Chatterjee, Avilin Ghosh, Shuvam Dey, Akash Deep, Mukesh Kumar, Suraj Jaiswal, Mohd Kaif, Pradipta Pramanik, Aamir Gani, Yudhajit Guha, Rohit Kumar and Rishav Vivek.
