Follow UsMohammed Shami is back in the Indian set-up for the first time since the 2023 ODI World Cup. The right-arm paceman has been picked in India’s squad for the five-match T20I series against England, starting on January 22. As expected, Jasprit Bumrah (injured) and Mohammed Siraj have been rested.
The squad for the three-match ODI series, starting on February 6, will be announced later. India are highly likely to announce the squad for the England series and the Champions Trophy together. The 20-over series will serve as perfect preparation for Shami, who is most likely to be picked for the Champions Trophy as well.
Shami had surgery on his right heel after the 2023 World Cup and had a long period of rehabilitation and recovery. However, he returned to professional cricket in November 2024 and has played in all three formats for Bengal since then. Shami was also supposed to be picked for the last few Tests of the India-Australia series but had to miss due to swelling in his knee.
Apart from Shami, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana are the other two frontline seamers in the squad. Nitish Reddy, who has been impressive so far in international cricket, has also been included.
Washington Sundar, who also travelled to Australia, has been included in the squad that Suryakumar Yadav will lead. Meanwhile, Axar Patel has been named as the vice-captain.
Dhruv Jurel will serve as Sanju Samson's backup, with Rishabh Pant not part of the set-up. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill are also not in the squad, while Riyan Parag is still injured.
There’s no place for Jitesh Sharma, who was part of India’s last T20I series in South Africa. Ramandeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Yash Dayal and Vijaykumar Vyshak are also the ones to miss out.
Axar, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakaravarthy and Washington are the four spinners, but there’s still no official update on Kuldeep Yadav, who is recovering from a groin injury.
Squad - Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel (vc), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel (wk)