The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the 15-member squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against England, set to commence on January 22, 2025.
This announcement comes as a significant development for Indian cricket, especially with the return of veteran pacer Mohammed Shami after a lengthy absence from the T20 format.
After being sidelined for 14 months due to an ankle injury and subsequent surgery, Shami makes a much-anticipated comeback.
His last appearance for India was during the ODI World Cup final against Australia in November 2023. His inclusion is expected to bolster India’s bowling attack significantly.
Notably absent from the squad is wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who has been rested.
This opens up opportunities for other players, with Sanju Samson named as the primary wicketkeeper. Dhruv Jurel has also been included as a second wicketkeeper, replacing Jitesh Sharma.
Suryakumar Yadav has been appointed as the captain of the squad, while Axar Patel has been promoted to vice-captain.
This shift reflects a strategic move by the selectors to bring in fresh leadership as they prepare for future challenges.
The squad features promising young talents such as Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Rinku Singh, who have all earned their spots based on recent performances in domestic cricket. Their inclusion indicates a focus on nurturing new talent within the team.
Alongside Shami, the bowling attack includes Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Varun Chakravarthy, with Ravi Bishnoi and Washington Sundar providing additional options.
This diverse bowling lineup is expected to be crucial in tackling England’s batting strength.
India vs England Schedule
| Match Details | Date | Time (IST) | Venue |
| India vs England, 1st T20I | Jan 22, Wed | 7:00 PM | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| India vs England, 2nd T20I | Jan 25, Sat | 7:00 PM | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| India vs England, 3rd T20I | Jan 28, Tue | 7:00 PM | Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot |
| India vs England, 4th T20I | Jan 31, Fri | 7:00 PM | Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune |
| India vs England, 5th T20I | Feb 02, Sun | 7:00 PM | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| India vs England, 1st ODI | Feb 06, Thu | 1:30 PM | Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur |
| India vs England, 2nd ODI | Feb 09, Sun | 1:30 PM | Barabati Stadium, Cuttack |
| India vs England, 3rd ODI | Feb 12, Wed | 1:30 PM | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
India’s squad for T20I series against England:
Suryakumar Yadav (C), Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel (vc), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Shami, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel (wk).
