Mohammed Shami left out for Fitness Issues? When will India star play again?

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Mohammed Shami was left out from the first T20I against England at the Eden Gardens, thus considerably raising questions over his fitness status.

Despite concerns over his match fitness, Shami was seen bowling with intensity in the adjacent nets during the toss, raising questions about his exclusion.

Shami's absence has sparked speculation, but there has been no official update on his current fitness status or the reason behind the decision to leave him out. Shami underwent ankle surgery after the World Cup and had recently experienced swelling in his left knee during his domestic comeback. These setbacks have kept him out of international cricket for over a year.

At the toss, Suryakumar Yadav chose not to elaborate on the decision, saying only, "Selection is a good headache. We are sticking to our strengths."

India opted for just one specialist pacer in Arshdeep Singh, who went on to claim pole position in the wickets tally for India in T20Is.

Shami, too, had been eagerly anticipating his return. After proving his form in all three domestic formats- Ranji Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s, and Vijay Hazare Trophy-he was optimistic about restarting his journey at Eden Gardens, a venue he considers home.

"The hunger to play for the country should never end. If you love it, you will always fight back, no matter how many injuries you face," Shami said at a recent event.

Is Mohammed Shami injured?

The decision to keep Shami waiting could be a tactical one, but it leaves his fans wondering how soon he'll make his much-anticipated return to international cricket. It is not known if the India speedster is injured but a fresh update is yet to be provided. For now, the veteran pacer must remain patient as he inches closer to his goal of donning the Indian jersey again.

When will Mohammed Shami play again?

Although Mohammed Shami missed out in the first match, the India pacer's absence is likely a temporary issue. The Bengal pacer was included in the India squad only after NCA's clearance, which means Shami's fitness may not be a long-term concern. As India play their next match in Chennai, Shami maybe left out of the team again as the team management may not want to change the winning combination. But Shami's elusive India return may take place latter in the series.