T20I series against England; Mohammed Shami returns to Indian team, Sanju will be opener, Rishabh Pant rested

MUMBAI: Veteran pacer Mohammed Shami has been included in the Indian squad for the five-match T20I series against England starting on the 22nd of this month. Shami’s return marks his comeback to the team after a year-long break due to injury. The squads for the three ODIs against England following the T20I series and the upcoming Champions Trophy have not yet been announced.

Shami had been out of action in all formats for over a year due to an injury sustained during the 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia in November. Following the injury, he underwent surgery and began working on his return in August. However, persistent recovery issues delayed his comeback. Shami worked on regaining his form through domestic cricket and aimed to make his way back into the Indian team.

In November 2024, Shami returned to action, representing Bengal against Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy. Subsequently, he proved his fitness in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Despite his performances, he was not included in the Australian tour squad.

The team for the T20I series is led by Suryakumar Yadav, with Malayali star Sanju Samson named as the wicketkeeper. Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant, who played in the Australian tour, have been rested for this series. Additionally, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Mohammed Siraj are also absent. Nitish Kumar Reddy has been recalled to the squad.