Suryakumar Yadav-led India registered a dominant seven-wicket win in the first India vs England T20I at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on January 22 (Wednesday) as they took a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.

Despite India’s win, questions lingered over pacer Mohammed Shami’s exclusion from the playing 11. With India aiming to make it 2-0 in the series with a win in the 2nd IND vs ENG T20I on January 25, can fans expect to see the ace pacer back in India colours?

Mohammed Shami last featured in an international match on November 19, 2023 in the ODI World Cup 2023 final. However, his much-anticipated return to the national squad after a 14-month absence was postponed in the first T20I in Kolkata when he was not included in India’s playing 11 despite being named in the 15-man squad. Although India secured a win with spin dominating the match, Shami's omission ignited discussions about his role in the current series.

Will Shami Play In IND vs ENG T20I In Chennai?

India's successful lineup in the first T20I included three specialist spinners, and given the spin-friendly conditions at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, there’s a high likelihood that the team may opt to stick with the same strategy, which means Shami’s return to the cricket field maybe delayed further.

On the flip side, there are strong arguments for Shami's inclusion for the Chennai T20I. With the Champions Trophy 2025 being India’s most significant tournament of the year, ensuring Shami is match-fit and in form would be crucial for the Indian team management, given there are doubts over Jasprit Bumrah’s participation in the ICC event.

If Shami is indeed included in the second IND vs ENG T20I, he will most likely come in place of Ravi Bishnoi.

India's Probable Playign 11 For IND vs ENG 2nd T20I

India Likely Playing 11 for 2nd T20I vs England: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy

England Likely Playing 11 For 2nd T20I vs India: Phil Salt (WK), Ben Duckett, Jos Buttler (C), Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Overton, Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood