UNFIT? Serious doubts over Mohammed Shami’s match-fitness after pacer misses IND vs ENG 1st T20I | Opinion

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India may have won their first T20 international against England at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday (January 22) night emphatically, but there are serious doubts over the match fitness of Mohd Shami. Shami may have been himself surprised he was not chosen to play, as Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya were the choices plus three spinners.

A few points need to be understood clearly, Shami has played domestic cricket but he is still using a left knee strap while bowling. When he got injured during the ICC ODI World Cup in 2023, it was his Achilles Heel. He underwent surgery for it.

The latest flare up is his left knee, something which was pointed out by Rohit Sharma in Australia as well during the BGT Series. The selectors may think Shami is fit and can shoulder the load in the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai, but he should have been tested in Kolkata.

Social media is asking questions as well why Mohd Shami was not included. It is clear, three injured bowlers the BCCI has picked for the Champions Trophy - Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd Shami and Kuldeep Yadav - are suspect. Shami has been projected well.

His PR managers have flood social media with videos of him bowling flat out. If that be the case, why did captain Suryakumar Yadav and coach Gautam Gambhir not name him in the playing 11? It would have made sense to play him in T20 internationals first and then push him into the ODIs against England.

There is more to it than meets the eye. If Shami is not a first-choice bowler and has come in ahead of Mohammed Siraj, the whole selection thing is fishy. You cannot have an unfit and untested bowler who will go to Dubai. As it is, with Bumrah injured and his next MRI can report due in February, there is suspense.

It may be suicidal to play him. It is a genuine fear if Bumrah will not be ready to play the Champions Trophy, Shami will become important. The BCCI does not speak on selection matters or injury matters.

There is more intrigue now on Mohd Shami, who should have been pressed into service at a venue where fans love him. The disappointment is massive for Shami as well as the fans. Of course, the larger picture is, how fit are the India bowlers.

'Hiding' Shami does no good when he is on a comeback trail. His absence from international cricket has been long. Proving fitness and match fitness are very different. Hope it can be established Shami's selection for major assignments is not dubious.