India's star fast bowler Mohammed Shami is ready to return to competitive cricket after being away from cricket for almost a year. Shami will represent Bengal in the Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh starting on Wednesday. 

Also Read: Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Full schedule and fixture

NCA gave permission to play

The National Cricket Academy (NCA) has given Shami approval to play. The return of this right-arm fast bowler was considered certain for a long time, but due to the delay in receiving the fitness certificate from NCA, he was not able to participate earlier. It was claimed that for this reason he was not selected in the Indian team for the 5-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia.

Ready to return after a year

Experienced bowler Mohammed Shami was last seen playing in the ODI World Cup 2023 against Australia in Ahmedabad on November 19 last year. Since then the pacer has been struggling with injuries. He has been battling with an ankle injury and underwent surgery on his right foot in March earlier this year. Shami has been at the Bengaluru's National Cricket Academy for his rehabilitation.

Shami will play Ranji match against Madhya Pradesh

Bengal Cricket Association Honorary Secretary Naresh Ojha said in a statement, "In a major boost to Indian cricket and the Bengal Ranji Trophy team, star pacer Mohammad Shami will make a comeback into competitive cricket for Bengal against Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match in Indore starting on Wednesday,"

Shami's inclusion will provide a boost to Bengal's fast bowling attack as their bowlers like Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar are currently in Australia with the Indian team. So far in Ranji Trophy 2024, Bengal has scored 8 points in 4 matches, while Madhya Pradesh has scored 10 points in the same number of matches.

Also Read: 6 things Gautam Gambhir said in the press conference ahead of Border-Gavaskar trophy

May return to Indian team

The Indian team will be seen playing a five-match Test series against Australia from November 22. Shami's fitness will be very important for India and he will be monitored during the Ranji match. If Shami proves his fitness in the upcoming four-day match, then it is expected that he can be included in the team for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. 

The selection committee has selected Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana for this series. At the same time, Mukesh Kumar and Khalil Ahmed have been included in the team as reserves.

Veteran batsman Ajinkya Rahane, on Thursday, has resigned from the captaincy ahead of the upcoming Ranji Trophy season. In a message on social media, Rahane made it clear that this is the time when the team should get a chance to develop new leadership.

Captaining and winning championships with the Mumbai team has been an absolute honour.

With a new domestic season ahead, I believe it’s the right time to groom a new leader, and hence I’ve decided not to continue in the captaincy role.

I remain fully committed to giving my best…

— Ajinkya Rahane (@ajinkyarahane88) August 21, 2025

Also Read: BCCI extends Ajit Agarkar's contract as Chairman of Selectors till June 2026

'I believe it’s the right time to groom a new leader'

Rahane posted on his social media account that he would not continue as Mumbai captain in Ranji Trophy but would continue to represent the side as a player.

“Captaining and winning championships with the Mumbai team has been an absolute honour. With a new domestic season ahead, I believe it’s the right time to groom a new leader, and hence I’ve decided not to continue in the captaincy role. I remain fully committed to giving my best as a player and will continue my journey with @MumbaiCricAssoc to help us win more trophies. Looking forward to the season,” Rahane wrote on his X account.

Mumbai Team under Rahane's captaincy

Under Rahane's captaincy, Mumbai achieved stability and success in domestic cricket. Under his leadership, Mumbai ended a seven-year drought by winning the Ranji Trophy in 2023–24. Apart from this, he also led the team to victory in the Irani Cup in 2024-25 and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2022-23. These victories took his captaincy to new heights.

Despite giving up captaincy, the 37-year-old, who has scored over 14,000 runs in 201 first-class matches, made it clear that he is not retiring. He will continue to represent Mumbai as a batsman in all formats.

Rahane said that he will work for the team as a batsman with full enthusiasm and commitment. His main goal is to bring success to the team and help the new captain in his development.

Also Read: Five things from Asia Cup team announcement press conference

Who will be the new captain?

India allrounder Shardul Thakur will lead the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team for forthcoming season.

Thakur leading Mumbai was always on the cards especially after he was appointed as West Zone captain for Duleep Trophy. It is understood that the Mumbai senior selection committee spoke to Rahane before the season and had taken his feedback about future captaincy candidates.

Thakur has been playing a vital role in Mumbai’s Ranji success over the past few years. In addition to wickets, he has also bailed out Mumbai with lower-order runs. He also scored 505 runs for Mumbai last season where he slammed one hundred. He also took 35 wickets in nine matches.

Indian cricket history has witnessed many pace bowlers who posed a threat to the opposition with their skill and guile. Pacers has played a role in the rise of the sport’s popularity. Some bowlers became match winners, the go-to player for captains whenever the team needed wickets.

Let's take a look at those pace bowlers who have the most international wickets for India.

Also Read: Most international runs in Cricket history

Most International Wickets for India (Pacers)

1. Kapil Dev | 687 Wickets

The World Cup-winning skipper, Kapil Dev has the most International wickets for India (pacer). He took a total of 687 wickets in 356 international appearances. These scalps have come at an average of 28.83, with best bowling figures of 9/83. Kapil Dev has a total of 20 four-wicket hauls, 24 fifers, and two ten-wicket hauls in the international arena. He also scored over 9,000 international runs with nine centuries.

2. Zaheer Khan | 597 Wickets

Zaheer Khan was the backbone of the 2000s Indian pace and has taken a total of 597 wickets at an average of 31.48. He has best bowling figures of 7/83. Zaheer has 23 four-fers, 12 five-wicket hauls, and a ten-wicket haul in international cricket. The 2011 World Cup winner had the ability to swing the ball both ways and was quite deadly in the death overs.

3. Javagal Srinath | 551 Wickets

Javagal Srinath, who is fondly known as Mysore Express is considered among India's finest fast bowlers and has taken 551 international wickets for Team India at an average of 29.11. His best bowling figures are 8/86. He has 15 four-wicket hauls, 13 five-wicket hauls, and a ten-wicket haul in international cricket. 

Also Read: The Greatest T20I Records That Will Stand the Test of Time

4. Mohammed Shami | 462 Wickets

Since making his debut in 2013, Mohammed Shami has made a total of 197 international appearances for India. He has been one of India’s finest pacers in the current era and has an amazing record across formats. Shami has taken a total of 462 wickets at an average of 26.10. His best bowling figures are 7/57. Shami has 22 four-wicket hauls and 12 five-wicket hauls for India. 

5. Jasprit Bumrah | 457* Wickets 

Jasprit Bumrah is the fifth Indian pacer who has the most international wickets. Bumrah is one of India’s most unique pacers who is known very well for his unorthodox action, incredible pace and the ability to take wickets under pressure in every format of the game. 

in 207* matches, Bumrah has taken 457 wickets at an average of 20.63, with the best bowling figures of 6/19. He has 17 five-wicket hauls and 13 four-wicket hauls in his international career.

Also Read: Most international wickets for India

6. Ishant Sharma | 434 Wickets

Ishant Sharma played for India between 2007 and 2021 and he was part of the 2013 Champions Trophy-winning team. Ishant took 434 wickets in 199 international matches, which included 105 tests, and took 11 fifers, 16 four-wicket hauls, and one ten-wicket match haul. His best bowling figures are 7/74. 

Indian bowlers, especially pacers, have always waited for the tour of England since it produces seam-friendly pitches, which help them get more wickets. From legends of yesteryears like Kapil to modern-day greats like Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah, they have had success in England against England. 

In this article, we present you the list of bowlers with the most wickets vs England in England for India in tests. 

1. Jasprit Bumrah | 51 Wickets

One of the most successful bowlers of this era, Jasprit Bumrah, has the most wickets vs England in England for India in tests. His finest skillset and ability to generate steep bounce and challenging seam movement with his unorthodox bowling action, got him 51 wickets in just 11 matches (20 innings) so far, and there's more to come in the future.

Bumrah achieved his 51st Test wicket during the second innings of the fourth Test match against England in Manchester. With this, he achieved a milestone of 50 Test wickets in England. He joins Wasim Akram (53) and Ishant Sharma (51) as the only Asian bowlers to reach this mark. He now has 51 wickets, averaging 26.38 and an economy rate of just 2.79. He also has 4 five-wicket hauls to under his name.

Bumrah's stats vs England in England

2. Ishant Sharma | 48 Wickets

Ishant Sharma is widely known for his pace and wicket-taking abilities. He took 48 wickets in 14 matches, with an economy of 3.29.

Ishant's ability to make the ball come in from a difficult length has worked well on English conditions. Moreover, his short-ball strategy during the 2014 series at Lord's helped India register a famous win in England.

Read Also: Most international wickets for India

Sharma's stats vs England in England

3. Kapil Dev | 43 Wickets

The Indian legend, Kapil Dev, is the third-highest wicket-taker in the list with 43 wickets in 13 matches played. The former Indian captain has an exceptional record against England and dominated on their home soil throughout his career.

Kapil's incredible outswing always had the batters guessing and with his ability to clean up tails, also helped him get many wickets in those conditions.

Dev stats vs England in England

4. Anil Kumble | 36 Wickets 

Anil Kumble holds the fourth place for most wickets vs England in England for India in tests. He took 36 wickets in 10 matches, which is commendable for a spinner in such conditions.

Kumble was the senior-most bowler of the squad during that time, and was often described as bowling "faster" for a spinner, that too with high accuracy. His spin deliveries was considered to be as fast as a "jumbo jet."

Kumble's stats vs England in England

5. Bishan Singh Bedi | 35 Wickets

Bishan Singh Bedi is the one name that stands out while discussing the wicket-taking rate against England. Bedi's incredible stat as a spinner in pace bowling friendly conditions like England sets him apart from the rest.

He took 35 wickets in 12 matches (18 innings), with an economy less than 3. Bedi also has the highest number of maidens among all the players in this list.

Singh Bedi stats vs England in England

6. Mohammed Shami | 34 Wickets

Mohammad Shami has a brilliant overseas record, and only a few Indian bowlers can be at the level with him. He has 34 wickets in 12 matches to his name, with an economy of 3.56.

Shami consistently hits challenging lengths, which makes him a wicket-taker against England batters. His unfortunate absence in the upcoming Test squad against England therefore became a point of concern for the fans.

Shami's status vs England in England

7. Mohammed Siraj | 32 Wickets

Mohammed Siraj, who made his debut in the Boxing Day Test of 2020, holds the seventh position with 32 wickets in just 9 matches at an average of 35.93 and an economy rate of 3.93.

Siraj also recorded the second-best bowling performance by an Indian at Edgbaston in Test cricket since Chetan Sharma’s 6/58 in 1986. The Hyderabad-born cricketer also became the first visiting pacer to bag a six-wicket haul at Edgbaston since 1993.

Siraj's stats vs England in England

8. B. S. Chandrasekhar | 31 Wickets

The wizard of leg spin, B.S. Chandrashekhar, makes his way up here with 31 wickets in 9 matches against England on their home soil. He had a phenomenal bowling figure in a match with 8 wickets (conceding 114 runs).

His most cherished performance against England came in the 1971 Oval Test, where he took 6 wickets for 38 runs, leading India to secure their first series victory on the English soil.

Read Also: Weird Styles: Indian players with unusual bowling actions

Chandrashekhar stats vs England in England

9. Zaheer Khan | 31 Wickets

One of India's most celebrated pace bowlers, Zaheer Khan, holds the ninth position with 31 wickets in only 8 away matches vs England. The former left-arm pacer was one of the best for India during his era. 

Zaheer had made legends like Alastair Cook his bunny with his lethal outswingers, going away from Cook. He was the best of his time, who significantly enhanced India's bowling strength.

Khan's stats vs England in England 

10. Ravindra Jadeja | 29 Wickets

Ravindra Jadeja, who is one of India's key all-rounders, holds the tenth position with 29 wickets in 14 matches. He is equally good with the bat as he is with spinning the ball for his nation.

Jadeja's ability to bowl long spells with variations, makes him a vital asset for the Indian team.

Read Also: Most Wickets for India in Test Cricket | Ravindra Jadeja overtakes Ishant Sharma’s tally

Jadeja's stats vs England in England 

11. Vinoo Mankad | 20 Wickets

Vinoo Mankad stands out from an early era. The former all-rounder truly made his mark on England soil by taking 20 wickets in just 6 matches. 

With his tight bowling and impeccable lengths, Mankad made the most out of the English conditions and proved why he was considered one of the best of his generation.

Mankad stats vs England in England 

12. Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan | 20 Wickets 

The 12th name on the list, Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan, who also had success in the English conditions, took 20 wickets in 10 matches.

He was a valuable off-spinner for the team, known for his accuracy and control over the ball.

Venkataraghavan's status vs England in England 

ICC tournaments are very crucial cricket tournaments in international cricket. These tournaments observe all the top cricket teams competing against each other. ODI World Cup, T20I World Cup, and Champions Trophy are the three major ICC tournaments. Some Indian players have turned up at these worldwide events multiple times, impacting the game long and deeply.

In this article, we will take a look at those Indian with most ICC appearances.

Also Read: Top 10 players with most runs in ICC knockout matches

Indian with Most ICC Appearances

10. Sachin Tendulkar | 61

• Span - 1992-2011
• Runs - 2719
• HS - 152

After hitting runs all over the ground throughout a two-decade glorious career filled up with many centuries and fifties, legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, widely regarded as the greatest batter after Sir Don Bradman.

Having represented India in 61 ICC tournaments, Sachin scored 2719 runs with seven centuries. His highest score in these tournaments is 152.

9. Mohammed Shami | 61

• Span - 2014-2025
• Wickets - 163
• BBI - 7/57

Mohammed Shami is India's most successful bowler in ICC white-ball Tournaments. Mr. ICC is also India's most successful bowler in ICC events, surpassing Zaheer Khan.

Shami has played a total of 61 matches across various ICC tournaments, taking 163 wickets. His best performance in the tournament is 7/57.

8. KL Rahul | 62

• Span - 2019-2025
• Runs - 2808
• HS - 137

There are stars in the Indian team, and then there is KL Rahul. Rahul showcased consistent performances for India as he batted in any position for the team. Rahul was one of the unsung heroes of the Men in Blue's victorious 2025 Champions Trophy campaign.

KL has played a total of 62 matches across various ICC tournaments, amassing 2808 runs. His highest score in the tournament is 137. He also has 6 hundreds to his name.

7. Yuvraj Singh | 72

• Span - 2000-2017
• Runs - 1707
• HS - 113
• Wickets - 35

Those who watched Indian cricket during the last two decades know how valuable Yuvraj Singh has been for the Indian cricket team. Statistics aside, he has proved to be a match-winner almost every time he has stepped on to the field in Indian colors.

Having represented India in 72 ICC tournaments, Yuvraj scored 1707 runs with one century, and 35 wickets to his name.

6. MS Dhoni | 78

• Span - 2006-2019
• Runs - 1492
• HS - 91

Legendary Indian skipper MS Dhoni turned 42 on Friday. With his performances and composure in big matches both as a captain and batter, he has won India all three major ICC white-ball cricket trophies, making him one of the most successful captains in cricket history.

Dhoni has played a total of 78 matches across various ICC tournaments, amassing 1492 runs. His highest score in the tournament is 91*.

Also Read: MS Dhoni's captaincy record in ICC Finals

5. Jasprit Bumrah | 79

• Span - 2016-2025
• Wickets - 229
• BBI - 6/27

Jasprit Bumrah is an integral part of India in all formats of the sport. Spearheading India’s pace attack for the last few years, he has done an incredible job.

Bumrah has played a total of 79 matches across various ICC tournaments, taking 229 wickets. His best performance in the tournament is 6/27.

4. Ravichandran Ashwin | 84

• Span - 2011-2024
• Runs - 1248
• HS - 113
• Wickets - 254

Ravichandran Ashwin is sure to go down as one of Indian cricket’s all-time greats. Having featured in 84 matches for India, the numbers paint a befitting picture of his impact with both bat and ball.

Ashwin scored 1248 runs in verious ICC events. He also has 254 wickets in the tournaments.

3. Ravindra Jadeja | 107

• Span - 2009-2025
• Runs - 2516
• HS - 175*
• Wickets - 202

Ravindra Jadeja has appeared in total of 107 matches across various ICC events, amassing 2516 runs. He also has 3 tons in the tournaments. His highest score in ICC event is an unbeaten 175. Jadeja also has 202 wickets in his name. 

2. Rohit Sharma | 130

• Span - 2007-2025
• Runs - 6172
• HS - 212

Indian captain Rohit Sharma has led India to back-to-back ICC titles, T20 World Cup 2024 and Champions Trophy 2025. 

Rohit has played a total of 130 matches across various ICC tournaments, amassing 6172 runs. He also has 17 hundreds to his name. Rohit has represented India in nine T20 World Cups, three ODI World Cups, two World Test Championship (WTC) finals, and three Champions Trophy tournaments.

Also Read: Who can break Rohit’s six-hitting record?

1. Virat Kohli | 136

• Span - 2009-2025
• Runs - 6451
• HS - 254*

Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli has the most ICC appearances, playing 136 matches for India. Recently Kohli was part of the Indian team that won the T20 World Cup 2024 edition against South Africa and Champions Trophy 2025 against New Zealand.

Kohli has played a total of 136 matches across various ICC events, amassing 6451 runs. He has 11 tons in the tournaments. His performances showed his consistency and ability to deliver for India in crucial international tournaments.

Bengal has a deep-rooted passion for cricket, and the IPL offers a great opportunity to have their local talents compete at the highest level. Several players from Bengal were a part of the exciting IPL 2025 season.

Whether through match-winning spells, consistent contribution, or vital innings, their presence was always prominent in the season. Check out the full list and performance of Bengal Players in IPL 2025 along with their on-field impact.

1. Mohammed Shami (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Mohammed Shami has been a long-standing and key figure in Bengal's domestic cricketing landscape. After being ruled out of the previous IPL season (2024) due to an ankle injury, he made a comeback this year as Sunrisers Hyderabad's key pick and second-highest buy for ₹10 crore.

Shami had a somewhat mixed IPL 2025 season and struggled with consistency and his lengths. After his stellar Purple Cap-winning season in 2023, his 2025 campaign saw him take 6 wickets in 9 matches, with an economy of 11.25.

However, Shami continued to prove his excellence by becoming the only bowler in IPL history to claim a first-ball wicket 4 times. He achieved the fourth one by dismissing Shaik Rasheed in the SRH vs CSK match in the 2025 season.

Shami IPL 2025 stats:

Read Also: Will Sanju Samson join CSK for IPL 2026? Manager's hint fuels mega transfer rumours

2. Abishek Porel (Delhi Capitals)

Born in Chandannagar, West Bengal, Abishek Porel is a true local and a proud representative of the state. He was retained for ₹4 crore by Delhi Capitals, where he continued to showcase his brilliance as a wicket-keeper batter.

He began this season with a good pace and proved to be vital by accelerating the run flow when needed. He scored 301 runs in 13 matches, which makes him the second-highest scorer for DC this season.

While his form and the team's overall performance had a slight dip towards the latter part of the tournament, his contributions as a top-order batter were undeniable. He proved that he can adapt to different batting positions and do well.

Porel IPL 2025 stats:

Read Also: Suryavanshi touching Dhoni's feet: Here are 10 best moments of IPL 2025

3. Mukesh Kumar (Delhi Capitals)

Mukesh Kumar is another example of an incredible pacer who plays for Bengal in domestic cricket and has done exceptionally well in the stage of IPL. Following his brilliant 2024 season for DC, he was retained this year for ₹8 crore via RTM (Right to Match).

He proved to be a reliable performer, delivering effective spells in death overs and under pressure. His ability to use variations and bowl yorkers with accuracy made him a key part of the team's bowling unit.

He delivered a standout performance in IPL 2025 against LSG with his 4-wicket haul and great spell, which earned him the POTM award after their victory.

Kumar IPL 2025 stats:

Read Also: Top 5 underrated players in IPL 2025

4. Akash Deep (Lucknow Super Giants)

Hailing from Bihar, Akash Deep moved to Bengal to pursue cricket and performed well in the domestic field, then later making it to the India 'A' team. In IPL 2025, he was secured by Lucknow Super Giants for ₹8 crore and played 6 matches.

Akash missed some initial games due to a back injury, and later bounced back to showcase a glimpse of his quality and experience as a fast-medium bowler.

There wasn't any particular "game-changing" performance or moment for him this season, but his contributions were a part of LSG's overall bowling efforts.

Akash IPL 2025 stats:

5. Shahbaz Ahmed (Lucknow Super Giants)

A keu all-rounder for Bengal's state team, Shahbaz Ahmed was bought for ₹2.4 crore in the mega auction by Lucknow Super Giants. He played a supporting role in IPL 2025 and provided depth in their squad.

He played only 3 matches, where he came out to bat for a single innings and took 1 wicket in the entire season. While the 2025 season did not see any noteworthy performance, his presence in the squad was enough to back then up and bring flexibility as an all-rounder option.

Read Also: Is 2025 the miraculous year in sports history?

Ahmed IPL 2025 stats: