Mohammed Shami has been in splendid touch in the ongoing 2025-26 Ranji Trophy. In two matches for Bengal, the right-arm pacer has taken 15 wickets. This includes a match-winning 5-wicket haul against Gujarat. The performance was a statement. Shami’s response to those questioning his fitness and form.
Shami was expected to fire in a similar manner against Tripura at the MBB Stadium in Agartala. Not only that hasn’t happened but he has been one-upped by his younger brother, Mohammed Kaif.
Mohammed Kaif shines for Bengal
6 years his junior, Kaif takes after his elder brother. He represents Bengal and is a right-arm fast bowler. But unlike Shami, Kaif isn’t a regular. At 28, he has played just 11 first-class matches, with this Tripura vs Bengal match being his 12th. Meanwhile, Shami had already made his first-class debut at 20 and made his India Test debut before turning 24.
Kaif hadn’t played a match in the ongoing Ranji Trophy, but on the third day, he outbowled Shami. While Hanuma Vihari kept Tripura in the game on the third day, Kaif sent three of the top four packing. Clean bowling Bikram Kumar Das and Sridam Paul, and trapping Bikramjit Debnath in front of the wicket. His fourth wicket was of experienced Vijay Shankar.
Bengal captain Abhishek Porel trusted Kaif to get breakthroughs, and that’s why he bowled the most overs. Shami bowled an equal number of overs but wasn’t able to take even one wicket, while Ishan Porel, Shahbaz Ahmed, and Rahul Prasad took a wicket each.
With one day left, Tripura still trails Bengal by 63 runs. Whoever takes a first-innings lead will be at an advantage since the chances of a result are highly unlikely.
Mohammed Kaif’s first-class bowling stats
| Mat | Inns | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Avg | Econ | SR | 4w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 18 | 34 | 4/14 | 7/86 | 21.82 | 3.00 | 43.5 | 2 |
