BCCI announces India squad for England T20Is, Mohammed Shami returns

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have announced their men’s squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against England, starting on January 22, 2025. A highlight of the squad is the return of the fast bowler. Mohammed Shamiwho has been out of international cricket for 14 months due to injury and recovery from surgery.

Team overview

The staff of 15 members, directed by Suryakumar Yadavincludes a mix of experienced players and newcomers. Shami’s inclusion is expected to strengthen India’s bowling attack as they prepare for this crucial series, especially with the ICC Champions Trophy coming up in February.

Key changes and player absences

Several key players from India’s Test team have been rested for this T20I series. Notable omissions include Rishabh pantswhich has been common in the T20I setup and jasprit bumrahwhose injury status remains uncertain. The selectors have chosen it Dhruv Jurel as a second goalkeeper alongside Sanju Samson. In addition, Nitish Kumar Reddy has received his first call-up to the T20I side after previously missing out due to his participation in the Test series against Australia. The management has also included Harshit Rana rather than other fast bowlers like Avesh Khan i Yash Dayal.

India T20I Squad for England Series

Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Sanju Samson (week), Abhishek Sharma, Axar Patel (vice-captain), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Dhruv Jurel (week), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakravarthy, Washington Sundar

Importance of the series

This series is crucial for India as it serves as preparation before the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 from February 19. The team aims to build momentum and consolidate its strategy with a mix of youth and experience.

Shami’s return is especially anticipated as he last played during the ODI World Cup final in November 2023. His experience and skill is expected to provide a significant boost to the bowling line-up.

As fans eagerly await the start of the series, all eyes will be on how this revamped team performs against a formidable England side known for their aggressive style of play.