Mohammed Shami‘s much-anticipated return to international cricket took an unexpected turn as he did not feature in the first match of the ongoing competition. T20I series against England at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
Shami, who recently recovered from a long-term ankle injury, has been included in the squad, raising hopes among fans to see the right-arm fast bowler return to action. Despite India’s comfortable 7-wicket victory, fans expressed disappointment over Shami’s absence from the field. Former Indian spinner Piyush Chawla weighed in on the matter, providing insight into Shami’s fitness and the team’s decision-making.
Mohammed Shami’s long road to recovery
Shami last represented India in the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 final against Australia. His career as a cricketer was cut short by an ankle injury that required surgery and a long period of rehabilitation. After 14 months of recovery, Shami was included in the squads for the five-match T20I series and the three-match ODI series against England. Additionally, he was appointed to India Champions Trophy 2025 team, with the tournament taking place from February 19 to March 9, 2025, in a hybrid format co-organized by Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
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“The Champions Trophy is the priority»: Piyush Chawla
Former India spinner Chawla explained that Shami’s absence from the playing XI in the first T20I was due to fitness issues. He observed Shami limping as he ran into the net, suggesting the team should focus on preparing for the Champions Trophy. The leg-spinner stressed that missing a few matches in the series would be okay if it helps Shami get back to full fitness.
“If you see the moose, it’s still limping a little bit. The main goal should be the Champions Trophy and being in good shape for that. A lot of games in this series, even if he misses a few games, it’s not a big deal. » Chawla said while speaking to the broadcaster as quoted by Hindustan Times.