India fast bowler Mohammed Shami's comeback to international cricket was delayed as he was left out of India's XI to take on England in the first T20I on Wednesday (January 22). Read more here.
Following the 2023 World Cup on home soil, Shami suffered an anke injury which required surgery, and kept him out of all cricketing action for nearly a year. He missed the 2024 IPL, as well as the T20 World Cup as a result.
He was first spotted training at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru during the Test series between India and New Zealand in October 2024, and just under a month later made his comeback to domestic cricket, turning out for Bengal against Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy.
Match 1st T20I, India vs England
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He has taken part in all three formats of the game at domestic level this season – Ranji Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy. Earlier this month, he was named in India's squad for the T20I series against England which begins today, as well as the Champions Trophy which starts next month.
Shami misses out in first T20I against England
His long-awaited comeback to the international game was expected to take place at Eden Gardens, his home ground, today. However, at the toss it emerged that India had left him out of the side – to much surprise. It has been understood that the purpose of including him in the squad for these matches was to test his fitness after a long injury and gain match time ahead of the Champions Trophy.
A potential explanation was put forward by former India international Piyush Chawla on the match broadcast: "If you see the run-up, he is still limping a bit. The main target should be Champions Trophy, and getting fit for that. Lots of matches in this series, even if he misses a few games, that is okay."
There are five matches in this T20I series, and with Shami's fitness for the Champions Trophy paramount with Jasprit Bumrah also in doubt for the tournament, India may want to ease him in.
Shami has had issues with his rehab since the initial injury – in December 2024, it was reported that he would not be fit to join the Indian team for the Test tour of Australia as he had suffered swelling in his knee.
In addition, a Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) function held at Eden Gardens a few days prior to this match saw Shami himself make an appearance, in which he had spoken about making a comeback at his home ground. From this, it appears that the the plan was very much for him to play this game. It is possible that he pulled up between then and now, in training yesterday or earlier today.
Read more: 200 wickets in each format, full list: Mohammed Shami completes rare treble
Suresh Raina also wondered whether India's team combination for this game played a part in Shami's non-selection: "India have selected three spinners. Will they start with spin, that's why maybe he was not picked? It was a very important match for him, on his home ground too."
If India had planned to play Shami, but their plans were disrupted by a injury, he could well have been replaced by Harshit Rana. However, Rana is also sitting out of this game, and the hosts have gone in with three spinners. It remains a possibility that the pitch and/or ground conditions played a part in his exclusion.
There has been no official word on Shami's absence yet.
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