Was Mohammed Shami not fit? Wasn't the whole idea of picking Shami for the England T20Is to give him match practice for the Champions Trophy?

The 34-year-old is returning to the national team for the first time since the 2023 Cricket World Cup final after an extended period away from the game.

Indian pacer Mohammed Shami is set to return to the national fold with the three-match T20I series against England, for the first time since the World Cup 2023 final. Shami had a lengthy first session with the Indian team in 14 months as he bowled his heart out.

India won the toss and chose to bowl first in the series-opening T20 against England's cricketers in Kolkata on Wednesday. Mohammed Shami missed out for India despite the fast bowler being available after more than a year on the sidelines.

In a blow to the Indian cricket team, fast bowler Mohammed Shami was left out of the Playing XI for the first match of the five-game T20I series against England being held at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The decision has dampened hopes of Shami's much-awaited return to international cricket.

Mohammed Shami’s comeback for the Indian cricket team will have to wait. The pacer was not picked in the Playing Xi by the Indian cricket team think tank for the first IND vs ENG T20 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. IND vs ENG 1st T20I UPDATE: India have won the toss at Kolkata and have opted to ball first. Follow our IND vs ENG liveblog.

India will chase in the first T20I against England after Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and opted to give his bowlers first go on a "sticky" Kolkata pitch, with dew expected to be a major factor in the second innings.