Indian supporters are eagerly anticipating Mohammed Shami's inclusion in the Test squad for the series in Australia, hoping it will alleviate some of the pressure on Jasprit Bumrah. On Monday, however, the fast bowler showcased his capabilities as a valuable lower-order batsman during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 tournament.

Bengal set a target of 159/9 after batting first, with Shami playing a pivotal role in the latter stages of the innings. He remained not out at 32 runs from 17 deliveries, which included three fours and two sixes. Notably, he struck two sixes and a four in the final over, securing boundaries off the last two balls of Bengal's innings. Shami's reputation as a lower-order batsman has been steadily growing over the years, highlighted by his remarkable performance in the second Test against England at Lord's in 2021, where he scored 56 runs off 70 balls, contributing to an unbeaten 89-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Jasprit Bumrah.

Here is a video of a part of Shami's assault:

There were a number of reactions to the innings on social media:

Shami has not participated in international cricket since the final of the 2023 World Cup, and he has only recently made his return to senior domestic cricket. India has notably felt his absence during the series in Australia, as there has been a marked decline in performance whenever Bumrah has been removed from the bowling attack. Bumrah was awarded the player of the match in India's victory in the first Test in Perth; however, the team subsequently suffered a defeat in the second Test by a margin of 10 wickets.

In the pink-ball Test, both Bumrah and Siraj claimed four wickets in the first innings, with Bumrah maintaining an economy rate of 2.65, while Siraj's rate was 4. Rana, on the other hand, went wicketless in the first innings, conceding 86 runs. Australia needed only 19 runs to win in their second innings.

Following the loss in the second Test, India’s captain Rohit Sharma remarked that the team is being "very careful" regarding Shami's travel to Australia, as they wish to ensure his complete fitness. "Certainly, that option remains open. However, we are closely monitoring his condition because he experienced some swelling in his knee while playing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy," Rohit stated.

"This situation affects his preparation for Test matches. We must exercise caution; we do not want to bring him here only for him to play and then experience discomfort. We aim to be certain about his readiness. Given the extended period he has been away from the game, we want to avoid placing undue pressure on him to perform for the team," he added.

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