Chandigarh, January 27, 2025 (Punjab Khabarnama Bureau): The biggest mystery in Indian cricket at the moment – bigger than Rohit Sharma’s future, Virat Kohli’s form, and Jasprit Bumrah’s injury – is Mohammed Shami’s absence from India’s Playing XI. The India pacer surprisingly missed not just the series opener in Kolkata but also the 2nd game in Chennai, leading to speculations about his future. Has he not fully recovered? Does he not fit in the scheme of things? WRONG. Shami is 100 per cent fine and raring to go, and the reason he’s not playing is something else.
With uncertainty surrounding Bumrah and his availability for the Champions Trophy, the Indian team management is preserving Shami for the 50-overs. Everyone involved in the thick of things is, in fact, very impressed with Shami and the way he has recovered and put in the hard yards to finally reach match fitness, but presently, his role in the Indian team is long-term.
Hence, using Shami judiciously seems to be the flavour of the month. Hence, to ensure Shami doesn’t break down, or summer the same fate as Bumrah, the India pacer is set to play a very limited role in the T20Is, perhaps no role at all. However, once the ODIs kick in, expect Shami to come out all guns blazing.
“Shami has shed 2 kgs from what he gained before his injury. He is bowling at full tilt. He is not needed as much in the T20 matches. But he should be good to go once the ODIs come around,” a report carried in the Times of India stated.
Why leaving Shami out of T20Is is not that bad a call after all
Based on this, it is safe to say that Shami is out of the third T20I against Rajkot, too. Besides, with India winning both their matches in Kolkata and Chennai, it is all but imperative that coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav wouldn’t fiddle around with the playing combination too much.
Summary: Mohammed Shami ruled out of 3rd England T20I due to team strategy. Comeback match details indicate his return in upcoming series fixtures.