Mohammed Shami produced a stunning catch off his own bowling to dismiss Harsh Dubey during the Duleep Trophy 2026 semi-final.
The moment came during the match between East Zone and Central Zone, when Shami reacted incredibly quickly to a ball that came straight back towards him. Instead of allowing the chance to pass, the experienced fast bowler stretched out one hand and completed a superb caught-and-bowled dismissal.
It was the kind of moment that can happen in a fraction of a second in cricket.
Shami had already been putting pressure on Central Zone’s batting line-up with his bowling. When he delivered the ball to Dubey, the batter played the shot softly and the ball travelled back towards the bowler.
The return was not hit with great force, but it was close enough to Shami to create a genuine catching opportunity. Shami immediately reacted, extending one hand and grabbing the ball before it could fall to the ground.
The dismissal sent Dubey back after he had scored 24 runs from 51 deliveries. It was another important wicket for East Zone as they continued to put pressure on the defending champions.
Mohammed Shami Pulls Off Brilliant One-Handed Catch
What made the catch particularly impressive was the speed of the reaction. A bowler normally has very little time to respond when a batter hits the ball directly back at them. There is also no time to get into a proper catching position. Shami did not have that luxury.
He simply reacted to the ball and reached out with one hand. The veteran pacer still has the reflexes needed to make difficult chances look surprisingly simple.
The dismissal also added to Shami’s contribution with the ball in the semi-final. He had earlier dismissed Yash Rathod, adding another important wicket to his performance.
The Duleep Trophy remains an important competition for India’s domestic cricket structure. It gives established players and emerging talent the chance to compete against strong opposition. Matches like these also provide an opportunity to maintain match sharpness and continue performing at a high level for experienced players such as Shami.
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Harsh Dubey’s Dismissal Adds to Central Zone’s Pressure
Harsh Dubey had tried to hold his position and build a useful innings for Central Zone. However, his dismissal meant another obstacle for his team. East Zone’s bowlers continued to apply pressure, which made it difficult for Central Zone to establish a commanding position.
Shami’s catch quickly became one of the talking points from the match. Videos of the moment showed just how little time he had to react, with the ball travelling almost directly back towards him.
Caught-and-bowled dismissals are not unusual in cricket, but one-handed catches like this are much harder to complete. The bowler has to judge the speed and direction of the ball instantly while also making sure the ball does not slip through the hand. Shami got everything right.
The veteran pacer has built his reputation primarily through his ability to swing the ball, seam it and trouble batters with his pace and accuracy. However, this moment highlighted another side of his game, his athletic ability and concentration.
For a fast bowler, catching can sometimes be an overlooked part of the job. Bowlers spend most of their time concentrating on their run-up, delivery and variations. When a powerful shot comes straight back at them, there is often barely enough time to protect themselves, let alone complete a catch.
Shami’s reaction was therefore particularly impressive.
The dismissal of Dubey was also important in the larger context of the semi-final, as East Zone continued their push towards the Duleep Trophy final. Shami and the rest of the bowling attack kept Central Zone under pressure as the match developed.
