On Tuesday, 17 February 2026, veteran Indian pacer Mohammed Shami turned out to be the game-changer for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy semi-final as he took an incredible eight-wicket haul (8/90) against Jammu & Kashmir. The 35-year-old speedster, who hails from India, showed his absolute fitness and match rhythm at the Bengal Cricket Academy Ground in Kalyani.
In the 2023 World Cup, Shami was the highest wicket-taker of the tournament, and in red-hot form in domestic cricket, with 38 wickets this season, the right-arm pacer has been constantly ignored for the national team.
This new “masterclass” performance of his has gone viral, and a lot of people cheering Indian cricket players on social media have been demanding his immediate return to the Team India lineup.
An 8️⃣-wicket masterpiece 🫡
Watch 🎥
Mohd. Shami wreaks havoc with his career-best First Class figures of 8/90 🔥
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/QXyCuRIgVM#RanjiTrophy | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/f4F3TYnSWi
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) February 17, 2026
A Spell To Remember For Shami
In the crucial game, Shami became the mastermind behind J&K’s sloppy batting as he first laid his trap by using the early morning moisture and his special upright seam to dismiss the top order, and then he returned to get rid of a stubborn tail.
His performance of 8/90 is not only his career, best statistics in First, Class cricket, but also a proof of his stamina as he bowled for more than 22 overs in the heat of a pressure, packed semi, final.
Can Ajit Agarkar And Gautam Gambhir Continue To Overlook Shami?
Throughout the Ranji season, Shami took wickets, which means that now he has 38 wickets from seven matches, but Ajit Agarkar, the chief selector, has not given his name the barest consideration.
Seeing the spotlight on the team’s pace bowling resources, the 8-wicket haul is a “loud knock” at the gate of the national team. It is said that, focusing on the 2027 ODI World Cup, a bowler like Shami should not be ignored either in the Test or ODI lineups.
Here is How Fans reacted:
This is Mohammed Shami, 8 wickets in India’s Ranji Trophy semi-final.
Meanwhile, our players are busy shooting commercial ads instead of focusing on domestic cricket. #ranjitrophy2026 #muhammadshami #indiancricket pic.twitter.com/4UJm0OI7OS
— Muhammad Ali Arshad (@AArshad28236) February 17, 2026
A spell to remember! 💥
Mohammed Shami dismantled Jammu and Kashmir’s first-innings batting lineup, recording his best bowling figures in an innings at the first-class level. 🏏#CAB #Bengal #RanjiTrophy pic.twitter.com/xNXrc2amjI
— CABCricket (@CabCricket) February 17, 2026
8-WICKET HAUL FOR MOHAMMED SHAMI IN RANJI TROPHY SEMI-FINAL
Mohammed Shami’s bowling figure 8 for 90 and hs helped Bengal to get the first innings lead in this Semifinal match.
– One of the Greatest Spell in Ranji Trophy History! pic.twitter.com/2JhEclLt04
— Almost Topper (@AlmostTopper) February 17, 2026
Mohammed Shami took a brilliant 8 wickets in the Ranji Trophy match. Not including him in the World Cup squad was a major mistake. Indian team selectors should consider taking Mohammed Shami back into Team India.
pic.twitter.com/eIOwy8Za6N— Moshahid Ahmad (@moshahid_ahmad) February 17, 2026
🚨MOHAMMED SHAMI IN THIS DOMESTIC SEASON 2025-26 PERFORMANCE 🚨
– 36 wickets, 16.5 average in Ranji Trophy
– 16 wickets, 14.93 average in SMAT
– 15 wickets, 24.5 average in VHTShami bhai deserve place in Team India 🇮🇳 👏 pic.twitter.com/okmz4YKfhY
— Manmohan (@GarhManmohan) February 17, 2026
