India pacer Mohammed Shami is set to make his international comeback after over a year on the sidelines. The speedster, who faced an injury setback during the 2023 World Cup, has been included in India's squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against England. Additionally, he is part of India's squad for the three ODIs against England and the Champions Trophy.

Bengal fast bowling coach Shib Shankar Paul has praised Shami’s determination to make his return to international cricket. After his injury, Shami returned to competitive cricket last year, representing Bengal in the Ranji Trophy, followed by appearances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy. Paul revealed that Shami would arrive at the ground at 6 AM, before the rest of the team, driven by his hunger to get back to peak form.

"Fast bowlers take time to recover from injuries, but Shami was so eager to return that he wanted to bowl even after finishing a game. This shows tremendous dedication," Paul said, according to Sportsboom.com. "Few players want to bowl for 30 to 45 minutes more after a game. He was also the first to reach the ground at 6 AM on match days during the domestic T20s," he added.

Shami lets go of Biryani

The fast bowling coach also revealed that Shami gave up his favourite 'biryani' and hasn’t had it for the past two months. He followed a strict diet, eating only one meal a day, in order to regain his fitness and make a successful comeback.

"He was on a strict diet. I saw him having just one meal a day. He loves biryani, but I haven't seen him indulge in it since he returned to action two months ago," Paul said.

Mohammed Shami's last international appearance was in the 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia. With Jasprit Bumrah's injury raising concerns, the entire team management is now hoping for Shami’s successful return to the squad.

Shami had his first training session with the team on Sunday at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. He received a warm embrace from bowling coach Morne Morkel before doing a few laps around the ground and then resuming bowling in the nets alongside Hardik Pandya.

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