The BCCI announced India’s T20I squad for the upcoming five-match series against England, marking a significant moment with Mohammed Shami’s return to international cricket. Shami, 34, is set to make a comeback after a 14-month hiatus from T20Is, having last played during the ICC T20 World Cup 2022.
His return is seen as a vital boost for India’s preparations ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Shami’s inclusion will also help him regain match fitness before the ODI series against England and the Champions Trophy starting on February 19.
Squad Updates and Key Players
India’s squad retained most players from the recent South Africa series, with Sanju Samson and Dhruv Jurel offering wicketkeeping options. Spin all-rounder Axar Patel was appointed vice-captain, reflecting his growing importance in the team. Nitish Kumar Reddy also returned to the T20I setup after missing the South Africa series due to his role in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Meanwhile, Shivam Dube, sidelined with an injury, was not selected this time.
The spin department includes Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, and Ravi Bishnoi, while Kuldeep Yadav was left out. Among the pacers, Harshit Rana joined the squad to support Shami and Arshdeep Singh, replacing Vijaykumar Vyshak, Avesh Khan, and Yash Dayal from the previous squad.
Series Schedule and Team Line-Up
India will face England in a series starting on January 22 at Eden Gardens, followed by matches in Chennai, Rajkot, Pune, and Wankhede. This series is crucial for testing team combinations and strengthening the squad for upcoming tournaments.
India’s T20I squad:
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 Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel (wk).
Schedule:
- 22 January: 1st T20I, Eden Gardens
- 25 January: 2nd T20I, Chennai
- 28 January: 3rd T20I, Rajkot
- 31 January: 4th T20I, Pune
- 2 February: 5th T20I, Wankhede
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