Veteran Indian pacer Mohammed Shami is all set to make his much-anticipated return to international cricket. However, fans will not see him in all five T20Is against England. Shami, who last played for India in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, was sidelined for nearly 14 months with an ankle injury.
The fast bowler underwent surgery in the UK last year and has since been gradually getting back into shape. His inclusion in the T20I squad for the series against England it comes as part of a workload management plan ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Shami needs to be eased back into action
According to PTI reports, Shami has been selected for the England series to prepare him for the Champions Trophy. However, he will not play all five matches as the team management wants to manage his bowling load carefully.
Shami’s return is crucial for of India bowling attack, especially with a few rested senior players. His experience and skill will be crucial as India aim to build a strong squad for the upcoming tournaments.
India’s T20I squad: Changes and surprises
The Suryakumar Yadav-led team will begin their five-match series against England on January 22 at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The line-up for the series underwent significant changes compared to the one he 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 includes four players: Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakravarthyand Washington Sundar.
Interesting, co-captain Shubman Gill he was left out of the lineup. Instead, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma He is expected to open the innings, followed by Tilak Varma and skipper Suryakumar Yadav.
The batting line-up for the first T20I is likely to include Samson and Sharma as openers. The middle row will see Tilak VarmaSuryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya.
Rinku Singh is expected to bat at No.6, followed by Axar Patel, who will provide depth to the batting line-up. The bowling attack will feature a combination of pace and spin, with Shami leading the pace unit in select matches.
Complete T20I Series Schedule
Here’s a quick look at the schedule for the India-England T20I series:
- 1. T20I: January 22, Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- 2nd T20I: January 25, Chennai
- 3. T20Is: January 28, Rajkot
- 4. T20Is: January 31, Pune
- 5. T20Is: February 2, Mumbai
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