India bowling coach Morne Morkel has assured fans that veteran pacer Mohammed Shami is in excellent shape and could feature in India's playing XI for the fifth and final T20I against England.

Shami, who is eyeing a full-fledged return to the national side after an extended injury layoff, has been working hard in practice sessions, with Morkel highlighting his encouraging performances during warmups to ease concerns about his fitness.

Shami made his much-anticipated return to the Indian jersey during the ongoing T20I series against England, having been sidelined since the 2023 ODI World Cup. However, he has had limited game time, featuring only in the third T20I in Rajkot. as he went wicketless in his three overs, conceding 25 runs. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Morkel reassured fans, stating that there is no fitness issue with Shami and that his experience continues to be a valuable asset to the Indian bowling unit. The coach also expressed optimism about Shami's potential inclusion in the fifth T20I in Mumbai.

"Shami has been been bowling really well. Catching to him at the warmups, he is hitting the glove hard. So, very happy how he's coming along. He's probably going to get an opportunity for the next game and we'll see see how things go, but excited to have him back in the group, just for him to share his experience and his knowledge of training as a massive boost for this young bowling unit, so yeah, great to have show me back in the mix," Morkel said.

,which featured a strong bowling performance by Arshdeep Singh on his series debut, raised further questions about Shami's absence. However, Morkel emphasised that Shami's role goes beyond just match appearances, as his experience and contributions in practice sessions have significantly benefited the younger bowlers.

India's success in the Pune T20I was largely credited to the brilliance of pacer Harshit Rana and spinner Ravi Bishnoi, who both claimed three wickets each to dismantle England's batting lineup. With the series already in India's favor at 3-1, the team now has an excellent opportunity to experiment with their lineup in the final match on February 2. Whether Shami takes the field or not, his presence in the squad continues to inspire confidence as he steadily works his way back to full match fitness.