All eyes were on Mohammed Shami leading up to the first T20I against England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday. Fans were excited to see the veteran fast bowler make his first international appearance in over a year and his first T20 match in more than two years. However, to the shock of many, Shami was left out of the playing XI for the opener against England.

Shami made his return to competitive cricket last October after being sidelined for nearly a year due to an ankle injury he sustained during the 2023 ODI World Cup final, which eventually required surgery.

After missing out on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, where India captain Rohit Sharma mentioned that Shami had experienced knee swelling during the domestic season, he was included in the T20I squad for the home series against England to help him prepare for the upcoming Champions Trophy.

Despite this, Shami didn’t make it into the playing XI for the match in Kolkata, as the team management opted for three spinners in their lineup. Additionally, he seemed a bit off in his run-up. While there were no obvious signs of injury, he didn’t look fully match fit, raising concerns about his readiness for the Champions Trophy, especially with India already dealing with worries about Jasprit Bumrah.

I'm trembling and quaking

Veteran Indian cricketer Parthiv Patel shared his thoughts with the broadcaster after the toss, where India chose to bowl first. He expressed his surprise at Shami being left out of the lineup and is looking forward to hearing from the team management about the decision.

"I think only the captain or the team management can explain why. It's quite surprising. We all thought he would get a chance after such a long time. There must be a reason for Shami not playing. If he's in the squad, there has to be something behind that decision," he mentioned.

Former England player Nick Knight, who analyzed the pitch, felt that India made a mistake by opting for an extra spinner instead of including Shami.

"I'm a bit nervous here. I just did the pitch report and was thinking it might actually favor the faster bowlers. The home team, who know the conditions better than I do, didn't go that route. I don't expect much spin; it might just play straight. For someone like Varun, that could work in his favor since he plays well off the front pad. So, while spin could still have an impact, I'm really surprised Shami isn't playing. He’s fit and ready, and with a bit of grass on the pitch, it should carry well," he said.

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