Why Mohammed Shami Is Not Playing Today in IND vs ENG 1st T20I at Eden Gardens?
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Read Original Content: Why Mohammed Shami Is Not Playing Today in IND vs ENG 1st T20I at Eden Gardens?
India captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and opted to bowl first in the 1st T20I against England at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Wednesday. However, the biggest surprise for fans came when star pacer Mohammed Shami was not included in India’s playing XI for the match. Shami, who last played for India in November 2023, had been seen bowling in the nets ahead of the toss, which made his omission even more unexpected.
Shami’s exclusion left fans and experts puzzled, as the experienced fast bowler has been a regular in India’s limited-overs setup for several years. The 32-year-old has delivered many match-winning performances for India, and his absence raised questions about the team’s strategy.
Mohammed Shami misses out from India's playing XI for the first T20I against England at Kolkata
Suryakumar Yadav : "No specific reason, Mohammad shami misses out due to playing 11 combinations."
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After winning the toss, Suryakumar Yadav addressed the media and explained the decision. He mentioned that the team wanted to stick to their strengths and adapt to the conditions at Eden Gardens.
“We will look to bowl first. The wicket looks sticky, there will be dew later on. It will be heavier later on. The boys have been amazing. The preparations have been good, looking forward to this series. It’s going to be great competition between both the sides. A good headache, we want to stick to our strengths,” said Suryakumar at the toss.
It seems that India opted to go with a more balanced combination, preferring to keep the focus on their spin attack and the ability to chase down scores if required. Shami’s exclusion could be related to the conditions and India’s strategy of opting for a more spin-heavy lineup in the initial phase.
India’s Playing XI for 1st T20I:
Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (w), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy.
Read Original Content: Why Mohammed Shami Is Not Playing Today in IND vs ENG 1st T20I at Eden Gardens?
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