India fast bowler Mohammed Shami is set to miss Bengal’s opening Ranji Trophy fixtures as he continues to recover from an ankle injury, according to PTI. Shami, who has not played since the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup final, is yet to regain full match fitness after undergoing surgery earlier this year.

Shami had expressed his willingness to play domestic cricket to assess his readiness for a return to the international stage. "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 recently. His absence will be felt by Bengal, but the team will be strengthened by the return of seasoned players Wriddhiman Saha and Sudip Chatterjee.

Saha, who made his Bengal debut in 2007, rejoins the squad after parting ways with the team in 2022 due to disagreements with the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). He had moved to Tripura as both a mentor and player, but is now back in Bengal colours, adding depth to the batting lineup.

Sudip Chatterjee, a reliable top-order batter, also makes his return to the Bengal squad. His experience will be crucial for Bengal as they navigate the early stages of the Ranji Trophy season.

Under the leadership of captain Anustup Majumdar, Bengal’s 19-member squad is set to face Uttar Pradesh in their first match in Lucknow on October 11. Following this, they will host Bihar in their second contest. Despite Shami’s absence, the presence of experienced campaigners like Saha and Chatterjee provides a significant boost to Bengal’s ambitions this season.

Bengal Squad: 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, Rishav Vivek