Mohammed Shami confirmed ‘fit’ ahead of 2nd ODI against England in Cuttack

India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak confirmed on Saturday that fast bowler Mohammed Shami is “completely fit” ahead of the second ODI against England, set to be played in Cuttack on Sunday. This comes as a boost for Team India, which currently leads the series 1-0 following their victory in the opening match in Nagpur.

Shami made his return to the Indian squad during the third T20I against England, marking his first appearance since the ODI World Cup 2023 final. In the five-match T20I series, he played two games and picked up three wickets at an average of 16.67. In the first ODI of the ongoing series, the 34-year-old bowled an eight-over spell, taking one wicket. His fitness ahead of the second match reassures India’s pace attack as they prepare to extend their lead in the series.

During the pre-match press conference, Kotak also addressed the possibility of Arshdeep Singh featuring in the second ODI. He stated that the decision on Arshdeep’s inclusion would be made by the head coach and captain. While the young left-arm pacer has been part of the squad, it remains uncertain whether he will be given a chance in the playing XI.

When asked about the fitness of star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, Kotak said he was not aware of the latest update regarding his scans. The 31-year-old had to leave the field during the final innings of the fifth Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in Sydney, following medical advice from Australian doctors. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) subsequently decided that Bumrah should rest for at least five weeks after the Sydney Test, which concluded on January 5, before undergoing another scan to assess his recovery.

Meanwhile, in the first ODI, India secured a four-wicket win over England at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, thanks to impressive half-centuries from Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer. Their performances guided India to a comfortable chase, giving them an early advantage in the three-match series. With the series now shifting to Cuttack, India will look to build on their momentum and seal the series with another victory against the Three Lions.

India’s updated squad for ODI series against England:

Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy.