Veteran Indian pacer Mohammed Shami is all set to make his much-anticipated return to international cricket. However, fans won’t see him feature in all five T20Is against England. Shami, who last played for India in the ODI World Cup 2023 final, has been out of action for nearly 14 months due to an ankle injury.
The fast bowler underwent surgery in the UK last year and has since been gradually working his way back to fitness. His inclusion in the T20I squad for the series against England comes as part of a workload management plan ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025.
Shami to Be Eased Back into Action
According to reports from PTI, Shami has been picked for the England series to prepare him for the Champions Trophy. However, he won’t play all five matches as the team management wants to manage his bowling load carefully.
Shami’s return is crucial for India’s bowling attack, especially with several senior players rested. His experience and skill will be key as India aims to build a strong squad for the upcoming tournaments.
India’s T20I Squad: Changes and Surprises
The Suryakumar Yadav-led side will begin their five-match series against England on January 22 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The squad for the series has undergone notable changes from the one that played against South Africa last year.
Key inclusions:
- Mohammed Shami replaces Avesh Khan.
- Harshit Rana comes in for Yash Dayal.
- Nitish Kumar Reddy replaces Ramandeep Singh.
The spin department features four players: Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakravarthy, and Washington Sundar.
Interestingly, vice-captain Shubman Gill has been left out of the squad. Instead, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma are expected to open the innings, with Tilak Varma and skipper Suryakumar Yadav to follow.
The batting lineup for the first T20I is likely to include Samson and Sharma as openers. The middle order will see Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya.
Rinku Singh is expected to bat at No. 6, followed by Axar Patel, who will provide depth to the batting lineup. The bowling attack will feature a mix of pace and spin, with Shami leading the pace unit in selected matches.
Full Schedule of the T20I Series
Here’s a quick look at the schedule for the India vs England T20I series:
- 1st T20I: January 22, Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- 2nd T20I: January 25, Chennai
- 3rd T20I: January 28, Rajkot
- 4th T20I: January 31, Pune
- 5th T20I: February 2, Mumbai
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