Mohammed Shami Returns to India XI After 14 Months, Plays First T20I in Over 2 Years

Mohammed Shami Returns to India XI After 14 Months: Mohammed Shami returns as the speedster has got the nod to enter the playing XI for the third T20I at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot after being on the bench for the first two T20Is against England. The third match in the five-match series saw Shami replace Arshdeep Singh.

This is Shami's return to international cricket after over a year; it is also his first T20I for India in more than two years already. He last played a T20I for India in November 2022.

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His last international game for India came in the form of the final against Australia of the 2023 ODI World Cup. Before the third T20I against England, Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak confirmed that Shami was fit and had no injury concerns.

He also said Gautam Gambhir, the head coach, and Suryakumar Yadav, the captain, have their plans prepared, and things are being done accordingly.

Once announced, everybody thought he would play the series opener at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. However, he wasn't in the team for the first two T20Is at Kolkata and Chennai.

Shami part of the Champions Trophy squad

In another twist of fate, Shami was selected for India's squad for the Champions Trophy, whereby it becomes essential that our respective speedster gets a few overs under his belt.

Reverse, the 34-year-old had returned to competitive cricket last year after recovery from an ankle injury by playing for Bengal in some limited overs, including Ranji Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy.

However, all these domestic performances have not justified the selectors' decision not to select him for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Now, moving on to the third T20I against England, India captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and prefer to bowl first.

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India have already taken the lead 2-0 in the five-match series and will be gunning for an unassailable lead should they emerge victorious from Rajkot.

None of the players have changed in the England XI since the second T20I, while one change in the Indian side has been made.

Playing XIs:

India: Sanju Samson(w), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Dhruv Jurel, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakravarthy

England: Philip Salt, Ben Duckett, Jos Buttler(c), Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Smith(w), Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

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