Veteran Indian pacer Mohammed Shami is set to make his international comeback as India announced their T20 squad for the upcoming five-match series against England, starting on January 22. Suryakumar Yadav will lead the team, with Axar Patel named vice-captain. However, the squad for the ODIs has not yet been finalized, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reportedly requesting more time to finalize the selection.

Shami’s Comeback After Injury

Mohammed Shami has not represented India since the 2023 World Cup final in Ahmedabad, where he sustained an ankle injury requiring surgery. The 34-year-old has recently returned to competitive cricket, participating in domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Despite his progress, Shami was ruled out of India’s recent tour of Australia due to a knee issue. On December 23, the BCCI medical team confirmed that his knee was not ready to handle the rigors of international cricket, leading to his omission from the final two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Following additional rehabilitation and fitness assessments, Shami has now been deemed fit for the upcoming T20 series.

India’s T20 Squad

The 15-member squad includes notable players like Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson, and Varun Chakaravarthy, with young talents like Rinku Singh and Tilak Varma adding fresh energy to the lineup.

India’s T20I Squad Against England:

• Captain: Suryakumar Yadav
• Vice-Captain: Axar Patel
• Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Nitish Reddy, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel

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Summary:

1. Mohammed Shami’s Return: Shami is set to make his international comeback after recovering from an ankle injury and a subsequent knee issue.
2. India’s T20 Squad Announcement: Suryakumar Yadav will captain the team, with Axar Patel as vice-captain for the five-match series against England.
3. ODI Squad Pending: The BCCI has yet to announce the ODI squad, citing the need for additional time to finalize the team.
4. Fresh and Experienced Talent: The squad features a mix of experienced players like Hardik Pandya and rising stars like Rinku Singh and Tilak Varma.