Sun Jan 12 16:43:47 UTC 2025: ## Veteran Shami Returns to India’s T20 Squad After Injury Layoff

**Kolkata, India –** Mohammed Shami, the veteran Indian seamer, makes a highly anticipated comeback to the national team after a 14-month absence, announced Saturday. The 34-year-old’s return coincides with the upcoming five-match T20I series against England, starting January 22nd in Kolkata.

Shami’s last international appearance was in the 2023 ODI World Cup final. A subsequent ankle injury requiring surgery in the UK sidelined him for an extended period, including the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. His rehabilitation was lengthy, complicated by a knee swelling.

Suryakumar Yadav will captain the 15-member squad, with Shami’s inclusion being strategic; he is also slated for the Champions Trophy and his workload will be managed across the series. He is not expected to play all five T20Is against England.

Several notable changes have been made to the team. Ramandeep Singh has been replaced by Nitish Kumar Reddy, while Avesh Khan and Yash Dayal have made way for Shami and Harshit Rana respectively. Wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma has been dropped, with Dhruv Jurel taking his place. The previous squad members from the South Africa series have been omitted due to the top T20 players’ prior commitments to the red-ball season. Surprisingly, Shubman Gill, the vice-captain after the last T20 World Cup, is absent from the squad.

The series against England will begin in Kolkata on January 22nd, and will also be played in Chennai, Rajkot, Pune, and Mumbai, before a three-match ODI series follows.

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