NEW DELHI: The Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot erupted in loud cheers as India skipper Suryakumar Yadav walked out for the toss. But more than his decision to bat or bowl first, the fans were eagerly awaiting one major announcement—the return of star pacer Mohammed Shami.
"Arshdeep is resting, Shami comes in," declared Suryakumar after winning the toss, triggering another wave of celebration from the crowd. India opted to bowl first against England in the third T20I.
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Shami's return to international cricket after 14 months was highly anticipated, but the outing didn’t go as he would have hoped.
Sidelined since the ODI World Cup 2023 final against Australia, Shami had played domestic cricket in the interim, but this was his first game for India since then.
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Renowned for rattling stumps, Shami looked rusty in his comeback match. Bowling three overs, he conceded 25 runs at an economy of 8.30 and went wicketless.
However, he generated speeds close to 140 kmph and got the ball to shape away, easing concerns about his fitness.
Despite winning the first two matches, India suffered a 26-run defeat in the third T20I. They still lead the five-match series 2-1.
"I'm sure Shami will do better going forward," Suryakumar said after the match.
