During the five-match T20I series between India and England, Mohammed Shami returned to the national team after a 14-month absence. He bowled three overs in the third Twenty20 International at Rajkot’s Niranjan Shah Stadium, giving up 25 runs without taking a wicket. However, on Sunday, February 3, the Bengal seamer scored three runs in the fifth Twenty20 International at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
On a belter of a track, Phil Salt came out firing, taking Shami for 17 runs in the first over while chasing a 249-run goal. But in his second over, the 34-year-old recovered and removed the highly effective Ben Duckett. Later in the innings, Shami came back to bowl and ended the game by taking the wickets of Mark Wood and Adil Rashid off successive deliveries. The Men in Blue defeated England by 150 runs on Sunday to win the T20I series 4-1.
The three-match ODI series between the two sides will now act as a practice for the 2025 Champions Trophy. Shami taking a number of wickets in international cricket, according to Parthiv Patel, will boost his confidence going into the 50-over tournaments.
“After 444 days without playing international cricket, he (Shami) took his first wickets.
He arrived and had a poor first over, but obviously you need some luck. After the game, Parthiv spoke on Star Sports, saying, “It’s not easy to be out of international cricket for so long, especially when you’re coming in on a very flat wicket, where the opposition is going to go after you because you are chasing 247.”
It’s good that Shami took a few wickets. “Shami will feel more confident going into 50-over cricket just to get a few wickets,” he continued.
On Thursday, February 6, India and England will play their first One-Day International at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. When facing a formidable batting team like England in the ODI series, Shami would try to leave his mark.
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