IND vs ENG: Why India picked 3 spinners? Suryakumar Yadav explains amid Mohammed Shami's omission in 1st T20I
Mohammed Shami¡¯s absence from the 1st T20I against England at Eden Gardens sparked fitness concerns ahead of the Champions Trophy. However, Suryakumar Yadav stated on why India opted to field three spinners.
When Mohammed Shami was included in the squad for the series against England and the Champions Trophy 2025, fans were eager to see the pacer in action. The buildup to the 1st T20I of the five-match series against England centered around Shami's anticipated performance at his home ground, Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
However, his unexpected absence from the playing XI in the opening match sparked concerns about whether the pacer had fully recovered from his injury. Many speculated that it might have been a precautionary decision due to a potential fitness issue. However, captain Suryakumar Yadav clarified that Shami's omission was purely a tactical call.
? ?????????? ???? ?? ??? ???? ???????! ? ?#TeamIndia off to a flying start in the T20I series, sealing a 7?-wicket win! ? ?
¡ª BCCI (@BCCI) January 22, 2025
Follow The Match ?? https://t.co/4jwTIC5zzs#INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/hoUcLWCEIP
Suryakumar Yadav on why India went with 3 spinners
Although Shami's absence raised fitness concerns ahead of the Champions Trophy, Suryakumar Yadav clarified during the post-match presentation that India had always planned to field three spinners against England.
"We wanted to stick to our strengths, we did the same thing when we played in South Africa. Hardik took the responsibility of bowling with the new ball. So I had a little bit of cushion to play that extra spinner and all those three are doing a wonderful job," he said after India beat England by seven wickets in the first T20I.
Mohammed Shami's injury
The bowler's last appearance for India was during the 2023 ODI World Cup, where he suffered an ankle injury that required surgery, sidelining him for an extended period. He made his competitive comeback in October last year, playing domestic matches for Bengal across formats to prove his fitness.
His performances had convinced the selectors to get him added into the Champions Trophy squad. As part of his preparation for the ICC tournament, he was included in the T20I series at home against England.
Defeat in Kolkata.
¡ª England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 22, 2025
We will look to bounce back in the second T20I in Chennai. pic.twitter.com/g8q1holJo1
About IND vs ENG 1st T20I
The Men in Blue won the toss and opted to bowl first, with the spinners proving their worth as India got England all out for 132 runs in 20 overs. The trio of Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, and Ravi Bishnoi picked up five wickets collectively, maintaining an economy rate of less than a run per ball. Meanwhile, the pacers contributed with four wickets but conceded runs at nearly eight per over.
England captain Jos Buttler stood out with a valiant 68 off 44 balls, including eight boundaries and two sixes. However, he received little to no support from the other end.
In response, India chased down the target in just 12.5 overs, powered by a blistering knock of 79 runs from opener Abhishek Sharma.
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Karen Noronha is a versatile journalist with a passion for sports and K-pop. With over 7 years of experience at publications like IBTimes UK, DNA, and OTTPlay/DesiMartini, she seamlessly transitions between covering global athletic events and the dynamic world of K-pop.
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