Kolkata, Jan 21: Eyes will be on fit-again pacer Mohammed Shami as he makes his comeback when the Indian T20 team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, faces a formidable England squad in a five-match series beginning Wednesday. Both teams are eager to recover from recent Test setbacks that have led to significant turmoil and disappointment.
The upcoming series, featuring five T20Is and three ODIs, offers both sides a valuable opportunity to try out different player combinations and gauge form ahead of next month’s Champions Trophy.
Despite missing four matches, Shami finished as India’s leading wicket-taker in the ODI World Cup 2023, claiming 24 wickets, highlighted by a remarkable 7/57 performance in the semifinal against New Zealand at the Wankhede.
Interestingly, he has also taken 24 wickets in his T20I career at an average of 29.62, and he will be looking to enhance that statistic while showcasing his fitness.
Shami was out of action after the final loss to Australia on November 19, 2023, due to an ankle injury that necessitated surgery. His return was further delayed by swelling in his left knee during a recent domestic match.
With his inclusion in India’s Champions Trophy squad, Shami’s return is set to capture national attention, especially as pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is dealing with a back injury, casting doubt on his participation in the tournament.
The 34-year-old made his competitive return in the Ranji Trophy for Bengal, securing their first victory of the season with a seven-wicket haul. He continued to impress in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (11 wickets) and the Vijay Hazare Trophy (five wickets).
Shami’s T20I career has been sporadic, with only 23 appearances since his debut in 2014, and his last performance in this format was during the semifinal against England in the 2022 T20 World Cup.
The Rohit Sharma-led Test team is still reeling from a dismal tour of Australia, making a strong showing from the T20 squad crucial, particularly after the Board’s recent emphasis on team discipline.
In a new role, all-rounder Axar Patel will make his debut as India’s vice-captain in the T20I format, rewarded for his outstanding all-round performances during India’s victorious T20 World Cup campaign in the Caribbean last year. Axar played a significant innings with 47 runs off 31 balls in the final against South Africa and took nine wickets at an average of 19.22 in the tournament.
He has shared his vision for India’s middle order, advocating for a flexible lineup with players adjusted between positions 3 to 7 based on match situations.
Attention will also be on Kerala’s Sanju Samson, who finds himself at a critical point in his career after being left out of India’s Champions Trophy squad and subsequently dropped by Kerala selectors for their Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh. Known for his talent, he was the first Indian to score consecutive T20I centuries in the recent series against South Africa.
Promising all-rounder Nitish Reddy, who recently scored his maiden Test century against Australia in Melbourne, has also been included in the squad, adding depth to the pace-bowling all-rounder options alongside the formidable Hardik Pandya.
For England, led by Jos Buttler, this series represents a fresh start under new head coach Brendon McCullum, who recently signed a three-year contract after Matthew Mott’s resignation following their T20 World Cup exit. Renowned for his aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach to Test cricket, McCullum will aim to transfer that success to the limited-overs format.
Although England will miss key players like Reece Topley, Sam Curran, and Will Jacks, 21-year-old Jacob Bethell, who shone in the ODI series against the West Indies, will be one to watch. Bethell has averaged 57.66 with a striking rate of 167.96 in his seven T20I matches.
Alongside Shami, England’s Jofra Archer will also be in the spotlight as he returns from injury to lead the pace attack before the Champions Trophy. However, bowlers could face challenges with the potentially heavy evening dew in Indian conditions. The squad also welcomes pace bowler Mark Wood, who has recovered from a right elbow injury.
Following Wednesday’s match, the series moves to Chennai for the second T20I on January 25, with fixtures in Rajkot (Jan 28), Pune (Jan 31), and Mumbai (February 2). The ODI series will kick off in Nagpur on February 6, followed by matches in Cuttack (February 9) and Ahmedabad (February 12).
India
Suryakumar Yadav (c), Axar Patel (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Shami, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, and Dhruv Jurel (wk).
England
Jos Buttler (c), Harry Brook (vc), Phil Salt (wk), Jacob Bethell, Liam Livingstone, Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood, and Mark Wood.
Match starts at 7 PM. (Agencies)
