Sat Jan 11 15:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Shami Returns as India Announces T20 Squad Against England
**Mumbai, India:** The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against England. The selection marks the return of pacer Mohammed Shami after a 14-month absence due to an ankle surgery and subsequent knee injury. He will join a squad that notably omits Rishabh Pant from the wicket-keeper batsman roles, with Sanju Samson and Dhruv Jurel taking those positions instead.
Ajit Agarkar’s selection committee named Suryakumar Yadav as captain and Axar Patel as vice-captain. Shami’s last appearance for India was in the 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia. His comeback was delayed by a knee inflammation, preventing his participation in IPL 2024 and the T20 World Cup.
The five-match T20I series, followed by a three-match ODI series, begins on January 22nd at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens. Matches will also be played in Chennai, Rajkot, Pune, and Mumbai. The ODI series starts on February 6th.
Most players from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy squad have been rested, except for Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, and Harshit Rana. The inclusion of Jurel as a second wicket-keeper batsman is also notable. Samson is expected to open the innings. Pant’s last appearance for India was during the T20I series against Sri Lanka.
First Piper 