Hundreds of passionate supporters packed the Bengal Cricket Academy ground for the Ranji Trophy semifinal between Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir, but what they witnessed was more than just a contest for a place in the final. It was a display of experience and rising promise as Mohammed Shami at his lethal best and Auqib Nabi announcing himself as a force of the future.
As national selectors Shiv Sundar Das and Ajay Ratra walked around during the lunch break on Tuesday, a fan’s voice rose above the murmur of the crowd: “Ab toh lelo Shami bhai ko (Now, please select Shami bhai). For how long will he keep pushing?” Ratra could only respond with folded hands and a smile, but the message from the stands was clear.
Shami, 36, delivered a performance that was impossible to overlook. The seasoned pacer registered career-best figures of 8 for 90, dismantling Jammu and Kashmir’s first innings and handing Bengal a crucial lead. It was another reminder of why he remains one of the country’s most dependable match-winners. With 36 wickets in seven matches this season, he currently sits sixth among the top wicket-takers and continues to press his case for a return to the Indian side. His participation in white-ball tournaments has further highlighted his ability to manage workload across formats.
Yet, if Shami symbolized proven class, Auqib Nabi embodied relentless ambition. The 29-year-old Jammu and Kashmir pacer leads the season’s bowling charts with a staggering 55 wickets, including six five-wicket hauls. Against Bengal, he followed up his 12-wicket haul in the quarterfinal against Madhya Pradesh with another nine scalps and chipped in with a valuable 42 runs — a contribution that kept his side within touching distance of a maiden final berth.
One bewildered supporter summed up Bengal’s second-innings collapse with a biting comparison: “Why did the Bengal innings fold (in the second innings) like Pakistan (in T20 World Cup)?”
The answer lay largely in Nabi’s disciplined and tireless spell. His ability to maintain pressure, extract movement, and break partnerships turned the momentum in Jammu and Kashmir’s favour.
Nabi’s standout season has already caught the attention of the Indian Premier League, where he commanded ₹8.4 crore from Delhi Capitals despite being uncapped — a significant vote of confidence in his potential.
For now, the semifinal spotlight belongs to both men: one seeking a national comeback, the other knocking loudly on the door. How they shape India’s pace future remains to be seen, but their duel has already left a lasting impression.















