India’s decision to leave fast bowler Mohammed Shami out of the playing XI for the first T20I against England in Kolkata caused a stir on Wednesday. At Eden Gardens, a venue thought to favor pace bowlers, India opted to include three spinners instead of bringing Mohammed Shami back into the international fold. This raised concerns about whether the decision was linked to Shami’s fitness. However, captain Suryakumar Yadav clarified that it was purely a strategic move.
Mohammed Shami, who has been out of the Indian team for over a year due to an ankle injury sustained during the 2023 ODI World Cup, had been eagerly anticipated to make his return. Following surgery and a long recovery period, he returned to competitive cricket in domestic matches for Bengal and proved his fitness. His selection for the Champions Trophy was seen as a sign of the selectors’ faith in his readiness. As part of his preparation, he was included in the T20I series against England, raising hopes of his comeback in the first match.
The build-up to the match revolved around Mohammed Shami, who had recently shared his enthusiasm about returning to international cricket during an event at the same stadium. But when the playing XI was announced, India chose to go with three spinners – Varun Chakaravarthy, Axar Patel and Ravi Bishnoi, leaving Shami on the bench. While some questioned the decision, particularly with the Champions Trophy approaching, Suryakumar explained in the post-match presentation that the team wanted to stick to their strategy of playing to their strengths.
He stated that they chose to stick to their strengths as they did in South Africa as well. Suryakumar added that Hardik Pandya had taken on the responsibility of bowling with the new ball, which allowed the team to include an extra spinner. The trio of spinners performed exceptionally well, collectively taking five wickets for just 57 runs, and played a key role in restricting England to 132 runs. Varun Chakaravarthy stood out with three wickets.
The Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir faced criticism for selecting only one specialist fast bowler Arshdeep Singh but the spinners justified the decision with their impactful performance. Suryakumar praised their preparation and clarity, highlighting their importance to the team.
India comfortably chased down the target in just 12.5 overs, thanks to a powerful 79-run knock from opener Abhishek Sharma, sealing a seven-wicket victory in the series opener.
