“Mohammed Shami is fit”: Indian coach explains how the pacer’s delayed comeback is ‘planned’

On Monday, January 27, India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak confirmed that pacer Mohammed Shami is completely fit for the T20I series against England. Sitanshu added that Shami’s participation in the remaining three matches of the series will depend on how head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav wish to make place for him in the XI.

Fans and experts had expected Shami to start playing against England in the T20I series after he got named in the squad, however, the seasoned pacer is yet to make an appearance.

“Mohammed Shami is fit. There is definitely a plan, looking at the coming matches as well. The ODIs, that is something the coach Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav will take a call,” Kotak told reporters on Monday.

“Fitness, definitely not a problem. Depending on how they plan to build his load, it all depends on that,” he added.

Shami was sidelined after he faced an ankle injury during the 2023 ODI World Cup, and he did not play a single international match in over a year. The pacer is named in the squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series and the Champions Trophy.

Shami came back to competitive cricket in November 2024, as he played for Bengal in Ranji Trophy. He then went on to represent the state in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy as well.

India’s squad for T20I against England:
Suryakumar Yadav (C), Axar Patel (VC), Sanju Samson (WK), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Shami, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Shivam Dube, Ramandeep Singh.

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