Archive · 12 Oct 2026
Shami’s Four Wickets Lead Bengal as Ranji Stars Shine
The Ranji Trophy began with teams playing cricket matches across India.
Bengal bowled Delhi out for 240, and Mohammed Shami took four wickets.
Shami said the pitch was slower than he wanted and asked for a more helpful one.
He also said he was concentrating on playing well rather than thinking about being selected for India.
Ravichandran Smaran scored 126 for Karnataka after his team lost four early wickets.
Ravindra Jadeja scored 72 without being out for Saurashtra.
Some well-known players had a harder day: Yashasvi Jaiswal scored no runs, and KL Rahul scored four.
Several other batters made big scores for their teams.
The matches were still underway at the end of the day.
Mohammed Shami took 4/30 as Bengal bowled Delhi out for 240 in 77.3 overs at Kalyani.
Shami said the pitch was slow and criticized the Cricket Association of Bengal for not preparing a more helpful wicket; he said his focus was on performing, not selection.
Ravichandran Smaran scored 126 on his Karnataka captaincy debut after the team fell to 22/4; Karnataka made 274, with Andhra 16/2 at stumps.
Ravindra Jadeja was unbeaten on 72 as Saurashtra reached 308/4; Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a duck for Mumbai and KL Rahul made four for Karnataka.
Other notable scores included Shikhar Mohan’s 143 for Jharkhand, Ankit Bawne’s unbeaten 105 for Maharashtra, and Gaurav Choudhary’s unbeaten 121 for Odisha.
- Who
- Ranji Trophy teams and players, including Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Smaran, Ravindra Jadeja, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul.
- What
- The opening day featured Shami's four-wicket haul, Smaran's century and other notable batting performances; Shami also criticized the Kalyani pitch.
- When
- Sunday, October 11, the opening day of the Ranji Trophy 2026–27 season, according to the reports.
- Where
- Matches were played at venues across India, including Kalyani, Vijayawada, Rajkot, Jamshedpur, New Delhi and Ahmedabad.
- Why
- Teams were competing in the opening round of the Ranji Trophy season.
Shami’s criticism
Shami’s stated focus
Kalyani pitch
Shami’s criticism
Shami said the surface was slow and that Bengal had repeatedly requested a more helpful wicket from the Cricket Association of Bengal.
Shami’s stated focus
Shami said he was not asking for a green pitch; the reports do not give a response from the Cricket Association of Bengal.
India selection
Shami’s criticism
The reports describe Shami as out of favour and note that his performance could remind selectors of his ability.
Shami’s stated focus
Shami said selection-panel changes made no difference to him and that his job was to play and perform.
- Bengal vs Delhi
- Delhi were all out for 240 in 77.3 overs; Shami took 4/30.
- Shami's spell
- 17.3 overs, nine maidens, 30 runs and four wickets, according to the reports.
- Shami on the pitch
- He described it as slow and said Bengal had repeatedly requested a more helpful wicket.
- Karnataka vs Andhra
- Karnataka made 274 all out, including Smaran's 126; Andhra ended the day at 16/2.
- Saurashtra vs Chhattisgarh
- Saurashtra reached 308/4, with Jadeja unbeaten on 72 and Prerak Mankad unbeaten on 92.
- Mumbai vs Chandigarh
- Mumbai were 249/5; Jaiswal scored a duck and Siddhesh Lad was unbeaten on 80.
- Other prominent innings
- Shikhar Mohan made 143 for Jharkhand, Ankit Bawne was unbeaten on 105 for Maharashtra, and Gaurav Choudhary was unbeaten on 121 for Odisha.
Sources
Ranji Trophy: Shami takes four-wicket haul; Smaran smashes century on captaincy debut on opening day
Ranji Trophy: Mohammed Shami scalps four as Bengal dominate Delhi on Day 1
Shami stars with ball as Bengal bowl out Delhi for 240
Ranji Trophy: How India's Big Names Fared on Day 1
Mohammed Shami takes four wickets, questions Cricket Association of Bengal pitch - Telegraph India
