Mohammed Shami Makes a Triumphant Comeback to India’s T20I Squad for England Series

Shami’s Road to Recovery

Since returning to competitive cricket in November 2024, Shami has showcased his resilience and form. He featured in all nine of Bengal’s matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, claiming 11 wickets with an economy rate of 7.85. While he played fewer matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, his performances were commendable, with five wickets at an average of 25.80. Despite speculation about his return to India’s Test squad during the Australia tour, recurring knee swelling delayed his comeback. Now fully fit, Shami’s inclusion adds depth and experience to the pace attack.

Squad Highlights

Suryakumar Yadav will lead the T20I squad, with Axar Patel named as vice-captain—a designation absent in previous squad announcements. Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shubman Gill have been rested following their participation in the recent Test series in Australia. Sanju Samson and Dhruv Jurel will handle wicketkeeping duties, with Jurel making a notable entry into the squad.

The selectors have also brought in fresh faces, replacing several players from the squad that triumphed in South Africa. New inclusions like Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, and Washington Sundar return after their commitments to the Test series in Australia.

Key Omissions

Notable absentees include Jasprit Bumrah, whose injury status remains uncertain following his inability to bowl in the fifth Test against Australia. Riyan Parag is unavailable due to a shoulder injury, while Ramandeep Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Avesh Khan, Yash Dayal, and Vijaykumar Vyshak have been left out after their previous T20I appearances in South Africa.

Schedule and Challenges Ahead

India will face England across five T20Is in Kolkata, Chennai, Rajkot, Pune, and Mumbai between January 22 and February 2. The series serves as crucial preparation for the Champions Trophy, starting February 19.

Following the T20Is, India will host three ODIs in Nagpur (February 6), Cuttack (February 9), and Ahmedabad (February 12). These matches will be India’s only ODIs before the marquee ICC event.

India’s T20I Squad for the England Series

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  Captain: Suryakumar Yadav
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  Vice-Captain: Axar Patel
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  Players: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakravarthy, Washington Sundar

Conclusion

Shami’s return marks a significant boost for the Indian squad, particularly with his wealth of experience in high-pressure matches. The upcoming T20I series against England will be a litmus test for India’s preparations ahead of the Champions Trophy, setting the stage for exciting cricket in 2025.