Mohammed Shami, the veteran Indian pacer, continues to demonstrate his exceptional bowling skills on the domestic and local league circuit. Although he's currently not featuring in the Indian national team's international assignments, Shami is proving his mettle by delivering match-winning performances. After a successful stint in the IPL 2026 season where he claimed numerous wickets, Shami has now turned his attention to the Bengal Pro T20 League, where he's representing the Servotech Siliguri Strikers. His recent performance has once again highlighted why he remains one of the most dangerous bowlers in the shortest format of the game, even as the national team returns to international duties.
The Context of the Bengal Pro T20 League
The IPL 2026 season has concluded, and while the focus of many fans has shifted to the national team's series and selections, the season for local T20 leagues has just begun. Leagues in Mumbai, Vidarbha, and Madhya Pradesh are currently underway, alongside the Bengal Pro T20 League organized by the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). On Saturday, June 6, Mohammed Shami took center stage for the Servotech Siliguri Strikers in their high-stakes clash against the Shrachi Tigers. Shami's contribution was pivotal in securing a 24 run victory for his side after they set a challenging target of 209 runs for the opposition.
A Sensational Catch in the Opening Over
Defending a target of 209 runs, the Siliguri Strikers needed an early breakthrough to put pressure on the Shrachi Tigers. Shami delivered this breakthrough in the very first over of the innings. On the fifth ball of the opening over, Shami bowled a delivery that induced an edge from the Tigers' opener, Sumanta Gupta. The ball flew towards the slip cordon where a remarkable piece of fielding unfolded. The fielder stationed at second slip dived to his right in an attempt to grab the catch but could only manage to parry the ball into the air. In a stunning display of teamwork and reflexes, the fielder at gully reacted instantly, diving to his left to complete a brilliant one-handed catch, while this sensational effort provided Shami with his first wicket and set a dominant tone for the match.
The Game-Changing 16th Over and Historic Hat-trick
Despite the early loss of their opener, the Shrachi Tigers' batsmen attempted to chase down the target, scoring runs at a brisk pace to keep the match competitive, while however, the momentum shifted decisively back to the Siliguri Strikers in the 16th over when Shami returned to the attack. On the fourth ball of the over, Shami dismissed Shahbaz Ahmed, who was his teammate at Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL. The pressure mounted on the incoming batsman, Rohit Kumar, who faced a sharp bouncer on the fifth ball and was promptly sent back to the pavilion. With two wickets in two balls, Shami was on the verge of a hat-trick. On the final ball of the over, Shami delivered a perfect yorker to Deepanjan Mukhopadhyay, trapping him LBW. This completed the first hat-trick of the league and effectively sealed the match for Servotech Siliguri Strikers, who eventually won by 24 runs.