Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh dismissed any fresh injury concerns surrounding Mohammad Shami after the veteran bowler was not picked in India's playing XI for the first T20I against England at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Wednesday (January 22).

Arshdeep assured fans that there was no need to worry about Shami's fitness, saying that the 34-year-old is bowling like his younger self.

In Shami’s absence, Arshdeep starred with the ball, picking up two wickets by conceding 17 runs in his four overs to script India’s dominant seven-wicket victory in the series opener.

"Just yesterday, I was talking about the same thing with Shami Bhai because when he was bowling, the way the ball was coming out of his hand was absolutely amazing. With every delivery, you would say, 'Wow, how can such an incredible ball come out of someone's hand like this!' Just wait for a few more days, and you'll get to see that bowling, and you’ll enjoy it a lot. The way the ball is coming out of his hand makes it look like the 22-year-old Shami Bhai is bowling again," Arshdeep said in the post-match interview with JioCinema.

Shami was seen bowling at the side nets, targeting the stumps ahead of the first T20I. However, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav revealed at the toss that the senior pacer’s comeback would be delayed.

The decision of the Indian team management prompted the fans and experts to question Shami's fitness, wondering if the swelling in left knee after rigorous practice sessions continued to trouble him.

On the eve of the Kolkata T20I, Suryakumar had confirmed in the pre-match presser that Shami was fit.

"It's always good to have an experienced bowler in your side, and he is making a comeback after over a year. I am really excited to see him. I have witnessed his journey—what he did at the NCA, how he focused on his bowling and recovery. It's great to see him fit and back in the side," the Indian captain hold told reporters.

Shami himself said that he was keen to make India comeback. "The hunger to play for the country should never end. If you love it, you will always fight back, no matter how many injuries you face," Shami said at a Cricket Association of Bengal event.

Shami is expected to make his much-awaited India comeback in the second T20I, slated to be held in Chennai on Saturday (January 25).