India’s fast bowler Mohammed Shami shared his eagerness to make a comeback to the national team ahead of the T20I series against England. After a 14-month hiatus, with his last appearance in November 2023 during the ODI World Cup, Shami is ready to return. Ahead of the series opener, he was seen bowling with full intensity during India’s practice session at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, and even spent an hour batting two days before the first T20I.

Following the practice session, Shami attended an event organized by the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), where the young girls from Bengal’s under-15 and under-19 women’s champion teams were honored. During the event, Shami spoke about the drive and hunger that pushes him to represent India at the highest level, a key factor in his determination to make a successful return.

“The most important thing is that the desire to play for the country should never fade. There must always be a hunger to represent the Indian team. I have that hunger, and I intend to play for India until my last breath.”

Ganguly Expresses Desire to See Shami in Red-Ball Cricket

Ganguly stated, “I definitely want to see Shami playing red-ball cricket. He’s crucial for Bumrah, and vice versa, for the Indian team. He has also bowled extensively for Bengal in domestic cricket.”

The event also saw the presence of cricket legends, including India’s Jhulan Goswami and Mithali Raj. Meanwhile, Eden Gardens is set to host the first T20I of the series against England, with heightened security measures in place due to concerns arising from the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh. CAB President Snehasish Ganguly confirmed the security arrangements.