Mohammed Shami’s absence from the playing XI in India’s series-opening T20I against England raised questions about his fitness. Although Shami was expected to make his long-awaited return after a 14-month hiatus, he was left out of the team for the match at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, which India won by 7 wickets. This fueled speculation over whether the BCCI selectors were fully confident in his physical condition.
However, veteran spinner Piyush Chawla supported the decision to rest Shami, emphasizing that it was the right call considering Shami's current physical state. Chawla noted that Shami was still showing signs of discomfort while bowling, particularly in his run-up, where he appeared to be limping. According to Chawla, the priority is to ensure Shami is fully fit for the upcoming Champions Trophy, with plenty of opportunities in the ongoing series to ease him back into form.
"If you observe his run-up, he’s still limping slightly. The main focus should be on getting him fit for the Champions Trophy. This series has several matches, so even if he misses a few, it’s not a big issue," Chawla explained.
India’s performance in the match was impressive, as they restricted England to just 132 runs after choosing to bowl first. Arshdeep Singh made an early impact by removing England’s openers, becoming India’s all-time leading wicket-taker in T20Is. Varun Chakravarthy was the standout bowler, claiming 3 wickets for 23 runs and creating havoc with his spin during the middle overs. Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya also contributed, picking up two wickets each in a commanding bowling performance.
England’s captain, Jos Buttler, fought a lone battle for his team, scoring a valiant 68 runs off 44 balls, but his efforts were not enough to prevent India from taking control of the game.
In response, India chased down the target of 133 in just 13 overs, with Abhishek Sharma leading the charge. The left-handed opener played a dazzling knock of 79, including a rapid 20-ball half-century, his first in T20 internationals on home soil. Abhishek’s powerful stroke play included five boundaries and eight sixes, as he scored 68 of his 79 runs through boundaries, setting up a comprehensive victory for India.
India now leads the five-match series 1-0, with the next match set to provide further opportunities for players like Shami to regain their full fitness ahead of the crucial Champions Trophy.
