Mohammed Shami returns as India announce squad for T20I series against England

Mohammed Shami in action (Image Credit: BCCI)

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 11, 2025: Pacer Mohammed Shami made a return to the India squad as Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday announced the 15-member squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against England starting from January 22 in Kolkata.

Shami last featured for the Men In Blue in the final of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in November 2023, and has since been out of the side after undergoing ankle surgery and knee issues.

Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was not picked in the squad as uncertainty looms over his injury which he suffered during the Test series against Australia in Sydney.

Additionally, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant and young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal have been omitted from the squad. In their absence, Sanju Samson and Dhruv Jurel will handle wicketkeeping duties.

“The Men’s Selection Committee has picked India’s 15-member squad for the upcoming IDFC First Bank five-match T20I series against England starting from 22nd January in Kolkata,” BCCI said in a statement.

India’s squad for T20I series against England: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel (vc), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Shami, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel (wk)

The upcoming T20I series will kick off on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, with the 1st T20I in Kolkata at 7:00 PM. The second clash will take place on Saturday, January 25, 2025, in Chennai, followed by the 3rd T20I in Rajkot on Tuesday, January 28, 2025.

The excitement continues with the 4th T20I in Pune on Friday, January 31, 2025, and concludes with the final showdown on Sunday, February 2, 2025, in Mumbai, all scheduled for a 7:00 PM start.

Match Schedule:

1st T20I: Wednesday, January 22, 2025 – Kolkata (7:00 PM)

2nd T20I: Saturday, January 25, 2025 – Chennai (7:00 PM)

3rd T20I: Tuesday, January 28, 2025 – Rajkot (7:00 PM)

4th T20I: Friday, January 31, 2025 – Pune (7:00 PM)

5th T20I: Sunday, February 2, 2025 – Mumbai (7:00 PM)