India’s pace bowler Arshdeep Singh dismissed any concerns regarding Mohammed Shami‘s fitness after the veteran pacer was left out of the playing XI for the first T20I against England in Kolkata. Shami, who had been sidelined for over a year due to an ankle injury, made a highly anticipated return to the squad. However, his exclusion from the opening match raised questions about his fitness. Despite this, India’s decision to go with just one specialist pacer Arshdeep and three spinners seemed to be a tactical choice.
In a post-match conversation with Jio Cinema, Arshdeep reassured fans, highlighting how Shami had been bowling at his best in the nets.
“Just wait a few more days, and you’ll get to witness the magic of his bowling. It’s like watching the 22-year-old Shami Bhai in action again,” he shared with India Today.
“I was talking to Shami Bhai about this just yesterday. When he was bowling, the way the ball came out of his hand was truly exceptional. With every delivery, you couldn’t help but think, ‘How is it even possible to bowl like that? It’s unbelievable!’”
Shami’s last appearance for India came in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, after which he underwent ankle surgery. The 34-year-old has been included in the squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, set to begin on February 19.
Despite Shami’s absence, Team India continued their strong T20I form. After winning the toss and opting to bowl, India put England under pressure from the start. They reduced the visitors to 17/2 in the powerplay and never looked back, ultimately dismissing them for just 132 in 20 overs. Arshdeep set the tone with two early wickets, and the spinners were equally dominant, combining for 5 wickets for 67 runs in 12 overs to restrict England’s aggressive batters.
India then cruised through the chase, reaching the target in just 12.5 overs with the loss of only three wickets. Opener Abhishek Sharma top-scored with a brilliant 79 off 34 balls, helping India to a commanding 1-0 lead in the five-match series.The second T20I will take place in Chennai on Saturday, January 25.
