Mohammed Shami Returns to Red-Ball Cricket in Duleep Trophy

Mohammed Shami marked his return to red-ball cricket on the first day of the Duleep Trophy, representing East Zone against North Zone. Bowling 17 overs, Shami displayed encouraging signs of form, gradually tightening his lines and troubling batters as the day progressed. Although he conceded 55 runs, he claimed one wicket, dismissing Sahil Lotra with a catch behind. Notably, Shami completed the day without any discomfort, a positive sign as he aims to prove his fitness for India's upcoming Test series against the West Indies.

Shami's last red-ball appearance was in November 2024, and injuries to his ankle and knee have sidelined him since. Ajit Agarkar, chairman of selectors, had previously expressed concerns about Shami's workload, making his Duleep Trophy performance a critical indicator of his readiness for the Test squad.

Southern Brave and Trent Rockets Secure Wins in The Hundred

In other cricket news, Southern Brave clinched a thrilling four-run victory against Welsh Fire in The Hundred men's competition. Jason Roy was the standout performer, smashing a blistering 70 off 39 balls to help his team post 167 for 7. Welsh Fire fought hard, with Tom Kohler-Cadmore scoring 84, but fell just short in a tense finish. The win propelled Southern Brave to fourth place in the standings.

Meanwhile, Trent Rockets secured a nail-biting three-wicket win against Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred women's competition. Rehan Ahmed starred with both bat and ball, taking three wickets for 15 runs and scoring a quickfire 37. The victory marked their sixth win in eight matches, securing a second-place finish in the group and setting them up for the Eliminator match.