New Delhi: Mohammed Shami was surprisingly excluded from the playing XI as India locked horns with England in the 1st T20I of the ongoing five-match series on Wednesday. The senior pacer was left out of the XI as India opted to go with only one frontline pacer in Arshdeep Singh while playing Hardik Pandya and Nitish Reddy as the two pace all-rounders.
Senior pacer Shami, who is part of India’s Champions Trophy 2025 squad, was expected to feature in the series opener at the Eden Gardens after spending significant time bowling in the nets preparing for his much-awaited India comeback after 14 months. Shami last featured for India in the 2023 ODI World Cup and had to deal with multiple injury issues as he remained on the sidelines for the entire 2024.
After proving his fitness in the domestic circuit, Shami was included in the T20I squad for the ongoing series against England to make his return for the Men in Blue. However, he was left out of the 1st T20I, sparking concerns regarding his fitness. Fans were left wondering if the pacer was excluded due to not being match fit or if it was a tactical call keeping the team combination in mind.
Fans react to Mohammed Shami’s absence from playing XI in 1st T20I:
BCCI made a special vid for Md Shami regarding his comeback to the team after 1.5 years, but they are not even playing him in the first T20i. I really wanna know the reason, like??
— Pallavi Anand (@PallaviSAnand) January 22, 2025
Wasnt Shami picked so they could give him some match practice ahead of the CT?
— Sarah Waris (@swaris16) January 22, 2025
Bcci and media Hyped Shami.. Made special videos of him and then didn’t pick him 😂😂
— Archer (@poserarcher) January 22, 2025
No Mohammed Shami, after all that. 😳#INDvENG
— Jamie Alter 🇮🇳 (@alter_jamie) January 22, 2025
Shami was earlier spotted bowling in the nets during India’s training sessions at the Eden Gardens with his knee heavily strapped. The pacer was expected to return in the second half of the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia but failed to do so after not getting the final clearance from the NCA due to his recurring knee issues.
The senior India pacer underwent surgery for his left Achilles tendon in London in February last year and fully recovered before undergoing rehab at the NCA. However, he developed swelling in his knee after making his comeback in the Ranji Trophy. Shami went on to feature in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament for Bengal but failed to get the green signal from the NCA for the Australia Test series.
Mohammed Shami’s fitness crucial from India
While the reason behind Shami’s absence from the 1st T20I is not confirmed yet, his fitness is crucial for India amid Jasprit Bumrah struggling with a back problem. Shami will be spearheading India’s pace attack in the Champions Trophy 2025 in case Bumrah fails to get fit in time for the multi-nation tournament.
Both Shami and Bumrah have been named in India’s 15-man Champions Trophy squad and the duo’s return to full fitness will be crucial to the team’s chances in the tournament.
Mohammed Shami was not included in India’s playing XI for the 1st T20I against England at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday, sparking a massive debate. Fans were left wondering why the pacer’s India comeback was delayed. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
