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NEW DELHI: The highly anticipated India vs England series kicks off at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday, January 22, marking the beginning of a five-match T20I contest between two evenly matched sides. This white-ball series, which also includes three ODIs, serves as a crucial preparatory ground for both teams ahead of next month’s Champions Trophy.
For India, the spotlight will be on the fit-again Mohammed Shami, who returns to the squad after recovering from an ankle injury that sidelined him following the ODI World Cup final loss to Australia in November 2023. His comeback, particularly in the absence of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who is nursing a back injury, holds significant importance for India’s bowling attack.
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India vs England series’ complete schedule
- The series schedule includes opening match in Kolkata on January 22, followed by matches in Chennai on January 25, Rajkot on January 28, Pune on January 31, and concludes with the final T20I in Mumbai on February 2.
- All five T20Is will start at 7 PM IST
- The ODI leg will begin in Nagpur on February 6, followed by games in Cuttack on February 9 and Ahmedabad on February 12.
- All three ODIs will start at 1:30 PM IST
India’s T20 squad, led by Suryakumar Yadav, features several players under scrutiny. Axar Patel steps into the role of vice-captain, rewarded for his impressive performances during India’s T20 World Cup triumph in the Caribbean last year. Sanju Samson, omitted from India’s Champions Trophy squad, will look to make a strong case for himself, especially after his record-breaking T20I performances against South Africa. Meanwhile, promising all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, fresh off a maiden Test century in Australia, adds depth to the side.
England, under the leadership of Jos Buttler and head coach Brendon McCullum, also aims to rebound after a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign.
The series comes at a critical juncture for both teams. India are seeking redemption after a horror Test series in Australia, while England are embarking on a new era under McCullum’s guidance. With dew expected to play a significant role in Indian conditions, the bowlers will face a stern test in what promises to be a high-scoring series.
India and England T20I Squads
- India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Axar Patel (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Varma,
Hardik Pandya , Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Shami, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar and Dhruv Jurel (wk). - England: Jos Buttler (c), Harry Brook (vc), Phil Salt (wk), Jacob Bethell, Liam Livingstone, Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood, and Mark Wood.
