IND vs ENG: Strapped knee, unstrapped spirit, Mohammed Shami preps intensely for India’s return
Xtra Time Web Desk: Mohammed Shami is set to make a highly anticipated comeback as he joins Team India for the T20I series against England, beginning January 22 at Kolkata's iconic Eden Gardens. This marks his first appearance in national colors since the ODI World Cup final loss to Australia in November 2023.
The experienced pacer, a key inclusion in India’s Champions Trophy squad, showed promising form during an intense practice session. Despite a heavily strapped left knee—a reminder of his injury struggles—Shami bowled with full vigor, impressing teammates and coaches alike.
Read More: Champions Trophy 2025: Shashi Tharoor criticizes KCA for Sanju Samson’s omission
A focused training session
The practice session witnessed the presence of head coach Gautam Gambhir, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, and former South African pacer Morne Morkel, who now mentors India’s pace unit. Shami engaged in a lengthy discussion with Morkel, reflecting his eagerness to fine-tune his craft.
Shami’s return is a significant boost for India, especially with the Champions Trophy looming. His presence strengthens a pace attack that will face England under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">He's BACK ????????<br><br>Team India ????????<br>Mohd. Shami ????<br>Eden Gardens ????️<br><br>Just perfect ????????<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvENG?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvENG</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/MdShami11?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MdShami11</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/IDFCFIRSTBank?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IDFCFIRSTBank</a> <a href="https://t.co/PwCuEOcaDA">pic.twitter.com/PwCuEOcaDA</a></p>— BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1881189914370293788?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Absence of Arshdeep Singh
While Shami grabbed attention, young pacer Arshdeep Singh’s absence was notable. Sources indicate that Arshdeep will join the squad on Sunday night and resume practice on Monday.
Read More: Champions Trophy 2025: Harbhajan Singh questions domestic cricket's value after Karun Nair’s snub
A challenging road to recovery
Shami's journey back to international cricket has been anything but smooth. Post the ODI World Cup, a series of injuries, including knee swelling and a side strain, kept him out of key tournaments like the Men’s T20 World Cup and IPL 2024.
However, the Bengal pacer worked diligently to regain fitness, marking his return with impressive outings in domestic tournaments such as the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Ranji Trophy. Shami not only excelled with the ball but also contributed valuable runs, showcasing his all-round abilities.
As India prepares to face England in a high-stakes T20I series, Shami's comeback could be the X-factor the team needs to make a resounding statement.
