Senior India fast bowler Mohammed Shami is missing from Bengal’s playing XI for their second Elite Group C match of the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 against Services at Palam A Stadium in Delhi on Sunday, October 18.

Shami has not been ruled out due to injury. The pacer has decided to skip the match after being left out of India’s squad for the upcoming all-format tour of New Zealand.

The 36-year-old had made a strong start to Bengal’s Ranji Trophy campaign, taking four wickets in the first innings of their season opener in Kalyani. However, his performance was not enough to earn him a place in India’s squad for the New Zealand tour.

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Shami’s younger brother, Mohammad Kaif, has replaced him in Bengal’s playing XI for the match against Services.

Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep Also Miss Bengal’s Ranji Trophy Match

Shami is not the only senior pacer missing from Bengal’s lineup. Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep have also been left out of the playing XI, but for a different reason.

Both fast bowlers have been selected in India A’s squad for the three-match unofficial Test series against New Zealand. They are expected to travel to New Zealand in the coming days, with the first match scheduled to begin in Lincoln on October 24.

Bengal have brought in Shahbaz Ahmed and Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal to fill the two vacant spots in their lineup.

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Akash Deep Also Selected for India’s Test Series Against New Zealand

Akash Deep has also earned a place in India’s squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against New Zealand, which begins in Wellington on November 19.

The fast bowler impressed in Bengal’s opening Ranji Trophy match against Delhi, picking up two wickets in the first innings and one in the second.

He also featured for Rest of India in the Irani Cup match against Jammu and Kashmir in Srinagar, claiming three wickets in each innings.

With the New Zealand tour approaching, Akash will be looking to carry his recent form into the India A fixtures before joining the senior team for the Test series.

Bengal Playing XI

Abhimanyu Easwaran (C), Ankur Paul, Sudip Kumar Gharami, Sudip Chatterjee, Shahbaz Ahmed, Sumanta Gupta, Abishek Porel (WK), Pradipta Pramanik, Aamir Gani, Mohammed Kaif, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal