Shahbaz Ahmed hits purple patch after ‘torrid time with injuries’

The last two months have been very rewarding for Shahbaz Ahmed. The Bengal all-rounder had a strong start to the domestic season, where he scored 300 runs in four Ranji Trophy matches at an average of 60, while also picking 22 wickets.

He was called up to the Indian squad for the first time since the Asian Games in 2023, when Axar Patel was ruled out of the final two T20Is against South Africa. He has carried over his purple patch into the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025, scoring three half-centuries in five innings and has scalped five wickets.

But all this looked very distant when an injury derailed his campaign 12 months ago. Shahbaz was diagnosed with a sports hernia after the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024, in which Bengal exited at the quarterfinal stage. The left-arm spinner was forced to miss the remainder of the domestic season as he looked to treat his groin issue.

“Sports hernia is quite difficult. You cannot engage in running or any other activities involving fast movements during this time. You have to undergo rehab and treatment to be able to come back,” Shahbaz told Sportstar.

“I would like to thank the Cricket Association of Bengal because they immediately arranged everything and got my surgery done in Germany. We were targeting a comeback during the Ranji Trophy knockouts, but the team failed to qualify,” he added.

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The following IPL 2025 also did not go according to plan for Shahbaz. The 31-year-old only played three games in the tournament for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), out of which two came after the team was knocked out of playoff reckoning.

Misfortune struck again during the Bengal Pro T20. The all-rounder dislocated his shoulder while fielding in just his second match of the competition. He was out of action again for another three and a half months, even missing out on the first round of the 2025/26 Ranji Trophy fixtures.

“After I hurt my shoulder, all care was taken care of by LSG. Their support is the reason I was able to come back so soon. Otherwise, it would have taken a lot longer for it to heal,” the spinner said.

Shahbaz says he has put the torrid time with injuries behind him. A renewed focus on maintaining fitness has played its part in his strong form with bat and ball, leading to a national team comeback.

“It felt good returning to the national side. It was a new setup, although I’ve played with or against most of the players in the team. When you get a chance after a long time, it motivates you. You feel hungrier to perform,” the Mewat-born cricketer said.

Bowlers have had a tough time in white-ball cricket in the recent past, with the game drifting towards a slam-bang brand with batters calling the shots. Spinners like Shahbaz are being used as defensive options rather than wicket takers. But Shahbaz suggests that it is only a matter of time before the bowlers find a way to bring the game back in balance.

“Batters are getting a lot more freedom, which is helping them improve their strike rate. Lower-order batters are focussing a lot on their power hitting during training. The whole game has developed. It has become extremely difficult for the bowlers. But I feel the bowlers will come back with new variations, more planning, especially in the middle overs,” he explained.

Shahbaz’s aspiration to become an all-format cricketer has hit a pause due to the presence of Axar and Ravindra Jadeja higher up the pecking order. The all-rounder says he isn’t deflated by the lack of chances, and the only thing within his control is how well he performs.

“My focus can only be on my game. How can I improve? I was rewarded with a recall to the national squad despite playing only 50 per cent of the matches since last year. So all that matters is what I do on the ground,” the 31-year-old said.

“Axar is doing really well. Ravindra Jadeja is one of the greatest all-rounders ever. I want to concentrate on my game. What can I add to my game to ensure I perform if given a chance in the Indian team?” he added.

It has been seven years since Shahbaz made his debut for Bengal. The State took a chance on a young player with no age-group experience who had made the switch from Haryana to further his cricket dream. 4808 runs and 265 wickets later, he is one of the first names on the team sheet. The harrowing wait for a continuous international run seems never-ending, but his track record proves Shahbaz will be ready when the time eventually comes.

Published on Jan 04, 2026