Mohammed Shami, the seasoned Indian pacer, endured a tough outing in the Duleep Trophy match against North Zone. Turning out for East Zone, the 34-year-old struggled to make an impact in his first-class return, finishing with figures of 1 for 100 from 23 overs.

His only success came on the opening day when he dismissed Sahil Lotra for 19. However, Shami’s expensive spell added to East Zone’s woes as North Zone piled up a commanding first-innings total of 408 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

While Shami had a forgettable return, it was spinner Manishi who kept East Zone in the contest. The left-arm tweaker delivered a standout performance, bagging 6 for 111. Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal also contributed with two wickets, but overall, the bowling attack lacked consistency under the captaincy of Riyan Parag.

This fixture marked Shami’s comeback to red-ball cricket after nearly nine months. He last featured in a red-ball game during the 2023 World Test Championship final. Despite enjoying a productive Ranji Trophy stint last season—where he took seven wickets across two innings—Shami couldn’t replicate that form in this game. He’ll be looking to make a strong comeback in the second innings

“If anyone has an issue, tell me. Will my retirement really change their lives? Who exactly thinks I’m holding them back? The day I feel uninterested, I’ll step away on my own. Even if I’m not picked for the national team, I’ll continue to give my best. If I’m not selected for India, I’ll still play in domestic cricket. I’ll find a way to keep playing. Retirement is a decision you make when the game no longer excites you — and that’s not how I feel right now,” Shami told News24.

Having missed out on selection for both India’s tour of England and the Asia Cup 2025, Shami had previously expressed his determination to prove himself through domestic performances. His last international game was the ICC Champions Trophy final against New Zealand earlier this year. Since then, he has seen limited opportunities at the highest level. To earn a recall, Shami now needs to consistently deliver in the domestic arena and remind the selectors of his quality.