Mohammed Shami Returns to Indian Team, Shows Promising Form in Training

Veteran Indian pacer Mohammed Shami took center stage during an intense three-hour practice session as Team India prepared for their white-ball series opener against England. Returning to the national squad after a 14-month injury hiatus, Shami displayed encouraging signs of form and fitness, bowling with precision and intensity under the watchful eye of bowling coach Morne Morkel.

Sporting heavy strapping on his left knee, Shami began cautiously, gradually warming up with short strides before bowling at full tilt for over an hour. Despite lingering concerns about his readiness, he delivered fiery spells in the nets, troubling batters like Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma with bounce and movement.

Shami’s session also included a face-off with young wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, who managed to counter him with some aggressive strokes, offering a stern challenge. Undeterred, Shami continued to bowl for nearly 45 minutes without requiring assistance from the physiotherapist or conditioning staff.

After completing his nets session, Shami moved to a separate practice area, engaging in a detailed discussion with Morkel. The two worked meticulously on specific lengths, with Shami showcasing impressive accuracy, repeatedly hitting target stumps set up for the drill.

Concerns Over Fitness, But Promising Comeback

At one point, Shami was seen limping back to the changing room, raising concerns about his heavily strapped knee. However, he quickly returned to the field, managing his movements carefully while interacting with his Bengal teammates.

Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar addressed questions about Shami’s fitness during the announcement of India’s squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. “His fitness issues were more related to longer formats. He has been steadily rebuilding through domestic cricket, and we felt this was the right time to bring him back into the white-ball setup,” Agarkar stated.

Agarkar also highlighted Shami’s value to India’s pace attack, especially with Jasprit Bumrah’s availability still uncertain. “His experience and quality are invaluable. This T20I series will help him regain rhythm ahead of the Champions Trophy,” he added.

Shami’s Journey Back to the National Team

Shami has steadily regained form through domestic cricket, including a stellar Ranji Trophy return last November, where he took a match haul of seven wickets. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20s, he claimed 11 wickets in nine matches at an average of 25.36. He followed this with a solid showing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, taking five wickets in three games at 25.80.

The selectors see his inclusion in the T20I squad as a significant step in reintegrating him into high-intensity international cricket.

Team Updates

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh was the only member absent from the practice session due to personal reasons. A team official confirmed his return later on Saturday. Meanwhile, England’s Jos Buttler-led squad opted for a rest day, with their first practice session scheduled for Monday.

As India looks to fine-tune its preparations, Shami’s return and form could play a crucial role in bolstering the team’s pace attack ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy, set to begin on February 19 in Dubai and Pakistan.