IND vs ENG 1st T20I: Mohammed Shami Injured Again? Aakash Chopra Provides Update on Indian Pacer

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Mohammed Shami’s much-anticipated international comeback has hit a roadblock, as the experienced pacer was left out of India’s playing XI for the first T20I against England on Wednesday, January 22, at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The exclusion of Shami raised concerns about his fitness, with former India opener Aakash Chopra highlighting that Shami may not be fully recovered from his injury.

“Shami not playing. Obviously not 100% fit for today. India has chosen to play only one frontline pacer in Arshdeep. Hardik-Nitish the two other pace options. England fielded 4 proper pacers. Both captains seeing the pitch differently,” Aakash Chopra wrote on X, further fueling speculations about Shami’s ongoing fitness concerns.

Shami had been sidelined for a significant period following India’s loss in the ODI World Cup final. The pacer had suffered an ankle injury that required surgery, leading to a long rehabilitation process. After his recovery, Shami faced further setbacks when he encountered swelling in his left knee during his domestic comeback in recent weeks.

Despite representing Bengal in the Ranji Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and Vijay Hazare Trophy, Shami’s knee issues continued to affect his fitness, ruling him out of India’s five-match Border-Gavaskar Test series in Australia. The persistent knee problem has further delayed his return to full match fitness.

Shami’s absence from the T20I squad is a matter of concern for India, especially with the upcoming Champions Trophy. The team is still uncertain about the availability of Jasprit Bumrah, and if Shami does not regain full fitness soon, India could find themselves without two of their key fast bowlers. This could prove to be a major setback, as India will face a tough challenge in the ICC event without their top-tier pacers leading the attack.

As of now, India’s bowling attack remains dependent on the likes of Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya, and Nitish Kumar Reddy. However, the absence of Shami, one of India’s most experienced pacers, puts more pressure on the remaining bowlers, especially in high-stakes tournaments like the Champions Trophy. India will hope that Shami can regain full fitness soon to bolster their pace attack and strengthen their chances in the upcoming international events.

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