Overview
- Shami returned 4 for 13 in 3.2 overs to bowl out Services for 165, earning Player of the Match in Bengal’s seven‑wicket win completed in 15.1 overs.
- The result gave Bengal a fourth victory in five games and lifted them to 16 points at the top of Group C, strengthening their position for the knockouts.
- He was left out of India’s T20I squad for the South Africa tour, with chief selector Ajit Agarkar previously saying there was little clarity on his fitness and match practice.
- Former spinner Harbhajan Singh questioned Shami’s absence as India’s pace options faced scrutiny, noting Prasidh Krishna conceded 85 runs in the second ODI despite two wickets.
- The spell marked Shami’s second‑best T20 figures after a 4 for 11 in the 2023 IPL; he has not played for India since the 2025 Champions Trophy and now has nine wickets in five SMAT games this season.