The first T20I between India and England has finally begun at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. However, star fast bowler Mohammed Shami, who returned to the Indian squad after 14 months, has to wait for his return in the playing XI as he hasn’t been included in the lineup for the first T20I at his home ground. Notably, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and announced that India will bowl first. 

Mohammed Shami was last seen playing for India in the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup in Ahmedabad on November 19. After that, the fast bowler suffered a knee injury and was oout of cricketing action for almost an year. However, Shami returned to professional cricket during the ongoing domestic season for Bengal and looked in good touch with the ball. Now, with the 2025 Champions Trophy around the corner, Shami also made a return in the Indian squad for the ongoing T20I series but has to wait a bit for his comeback match for Men in Blue. 

Fans reacted to Mohammed Shami’s snub from playing XI for 1st T20I vs England

Making his return to the Indian squad after 14 months, the fans were expecting for Mohammed Shami to make a comeback for the Indian on the field in the first T20I in his domestic home ground. However, the right-arm pacer didn’t make it to the squad as India decided to go with Arshdeep Singh as only pacer in the squad along with all-rounder Hardik Pandya. 

Let's have a look at different reaction from the fans for Mohammed Shami's snub from the first T20I vs England

Indian squad for the 1st T20I: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy

England's squad for the first T20I: Ben Duckett, Philip Salt (wk), Jos Buttler (c), Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood