Indian veteran pacer Muhammad Shami is all set to make his long-awaited return to international cricket. However, fans will not see him play in all five T20Is against England. Shami, who last played for India in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, has been sidelined for nearly 14 months with an ankle injury.
The fast forward underwent surgery in the UK last year and has since gradually started to work 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 2025 Champions Trophy.
The handkerchief will ease 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 will not play all five matches as the team management wants to manage his bowling load carefully.
The return of Shami is crucial for of India bowling attack, especially with some top players rested. His experience and skill will be essential as India look to build a strong squad for the upcoming tournaments.
India's T20I squad: Changes and surprises
of Suryakumar YadavThe guided team will begin their five-match series against England on January 22 at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The team for the series has undergone noticeable changes from the one they played against South Africa last year.
Main Inclusions:
- Mohammed Shami replaces Avesh Khan.
- Harshit Rana comes for Yash Dayal.
- Nitish Kumar Reddy replaces Ramandeep Singh.
The spin department features four players: Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun ChakrabortyAND Washington Sundar.
Interesting, vice-captain Shubman Gill has been left out of the team. Instead, Sanju Samson AND Abhishek Sharma is expected to open the innings, with Tilak Varma and captain Suryakumar Yadav to follow.
The batting line-up for the first T20I is likely to include Samson and Sharma as openers. The middle order will see Tilak VarmaSuryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya.
Rinku Singh is expected to go at No.6, followed by Axar Patel, who will add depth to the batting line-up. The bowling attack will feature a mix 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 vs 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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