Team India kicked off a five-match T20I series against England with a seven-wicket win in the opening match at the Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata on Wednesday, January 22. With a target of 133 set by Jos Buttler’s side,

Shami’s omission from India’s playing XI in the first T20I sparked a debate across social media and news platforms.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir was criticised for the call to pick just one specialist pacer, Arshdeep Singh, for the match, but the decision to pick three spinners was vindicated after the trio picked five wickets for 57 runs en route to folding England for just 132 runs. Varun was the pick of the bowlers with his three-fer.