Shami's First-Class Return Fizzles: India Pacer Leaks Runs in Duleep Trophy

India fast bowler Mohammed Shami had a forgettable return to first class cricket as he bowled an expensive spell in the quarterfinal of the Duleep Trophy 2025. Making his return to red-ball cricket after over nine months, Shami could only manage one wicket, playing for East Zone against North Zone.

The right-arm speedster gave away 100 runs in 23 overs, leaking runs at an economy of 4.34 and dismissed Sahil Lotra. Apart from him, Manishi starred with the ball for the East Zone, scalping six wickets for 111 runs in 22.2 overs, while Siraj Sindhu Jaswal (2/44) also picked two wickets.

Shami last played red-ball cricket during the previous Ranji Trophy, where he scalped seven wickets from two innings. His last appearance in Tests came during the World Test Championship (WTC) final 2023. The 34-year-old was recently not picked for the five-match Test series against England due to fitness issues.

Recently, Shami opened up on his snub from Tests and said that he will continue to work hard to make his way back into the side.

“If someone has a problem, tell me. Do their lives somehow improve if I retire? Whose life have I become a rock in that you want me to retire?. The day I get bored, I will leave. You don’t pick me, but I will keep working hard. You don’t pick me internationally, I will play domestically. I will keep playing somewhere or the other. Decisions about retirement come when you start feeling bored. That’s not the case for me now,” Shami said in an interview with News24.

Shami last played for India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and played a key role in their victorious campaign. He finished as the joint second-highest wicket-taker of the tournament with nine wickets from five matches.