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Mohammed Shami made his much-awaited India comeback in Rajkot but was dropped from the playing XI for the fourth T20I.
Mohammed Shami went wicketless on international return. (BCCI Photo)
Just one match after India comeback, India didn’t pick Mohammed Shami for their next game against England in the ongoing five-match T20I series in which they took a decisive 3-1 lead on Friday in Pune. Shami played his first international match since November 2023 when he took the field during the third T20I held at Rajkot. While his seam position was as good as ever, the veteran went wicketless in a three-over spell.
In the 4th T20I, India brought back Arshdeep Singh into the playing XI after benching him or Shami in the previous game.
So why was the 34-year-old not picked for the Pune fixture? India bowling coach Morne Morkel says the bowler has been performing well in the training sessions and indicated that he could get another game in the fifth and final T20I to be played in Mumbai on Sunday.
“Shami has been bowling really well,” Morkel replied when queried on the bowler’s exclusion during a media interaction on Friday night. “Catching to him at warmups – he is really hitting the glove hard. So very happy while he’s coming along.”
“He’s (Shami) probably going to get an opportunity the next game. We’ll see, see how things go. But yeah, excited to hear have him back in the group just for him to share his experience and his knowledge at training is a massive boost for this young bowling unit and for Indian cricket. Great to have Shami back in the mix,” he added.
Shami underwent a surgery to deal with an ankle surgery after the 2023 ODI World Cup and it kept him on the sidelines for nearly a year. He made his competitive comeback with the ongoing Ranji Trophy for Bengal before logging appearances in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the subsequent Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Shami was expected to join India’s tour of Australia in December, but a knee issue delayed his international comeback. He’s also been picked in India’s squads for the next month’s England ODI series and the Champions Trophy.
