Mystery around pacer’s exclusion from India’s playing XI Kolkata, Jan 22: Mohammed Shami’s much-anticipated comeback will be further delayed as the Indian pacer was not named in India’s playing eleven for the first T20I against England,

India has won the toss and elected to bowl first in the series-opening T20 against England's cricketers in Kolkata. Mohammed Shami missed out for India despite the fast bowler being available after more than a year on the sidelines.

President Snehasish Ganguly has expressed his enthusiasm for Mohammed Shamis return to the field. Shami, who has made a remarkable comeback after a year, is set to play in front of an eager Kolkata crowd.

Piyush Chawla backed India's decision to bench Mohammed Shami, while Suresh Raina reckoned it was a tactical call

Indian pacer Mohammed Shami is set to return to the national fold with the three-match T20I series against England, for the first time since the World Cup 2023 final. Shami had a lengthy first session with the Indian team in 14 months as he bowled his heart out.

In a blow to the Indian cricket team, fast bowler Mohammed Shami was left out of the Playing XI for the first match of the five-game T20I series against England being held at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The decision has dampened hopes of Shami's much-awaited return to international cricket.

Inspired bowling and a 34-ball 79 by opener Abhishek Sharma helped India to a crushing seven-wicket win over England in the first T20 international on Wednesday.

India have their trump card in the middle overs in Varun Chakravarthy. The mystery spinner has been in tremendous form and has added side spin to his armoury. The battle between Buttler and Varun can be the game-changer in the middle overs.

India's T20 prowess is way ahead of what they have shown in red-ball cricket, said veteran journalist and THE WEEK Consulting Editor, Sports, Ayaz Memon, after the Men in Blue won the first T20I again

Mohammed Shami could be featured in the remaining matches of the England series after not playing the opener in Kolkata.

Irfan Pathan highlighted the lack of the fast bowling options in Team India's squad in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, saying that Mohammed Siraj could have been added to the team