THE Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against England. The series, which begins on January 22 in Kolkata, will see Sanju Samson return to the T20I setup while veteran pacer Mohammed Shami makes a much-awaited comeback.
Samson In, Pant Left Out
Sanju Samson has been named as the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter, who replaces Rishabh pantswho has rested. Samson’s recent performances in T20Is have earned him the spot and he is expected to play a key role at the top of the order.
Suryakumar Yadav he will continue to captain the side. His aggressive style of batting perfectly suits India’s attacking philosophy in recent times. Axar Patel has taken over as vice-captain, a move that reflects his growing stature in the team.
With superior pacers jasprit bumrah and Mohammed Siraj barring injuries, the return of Mohammed Shami is a major boost to the bowling department. Shami last played for India in the ICC World Cup 2023 final and has since been sidelined due to injury.
Fresh faces and key inclusions
The team has some fresh faces. Dhruv Jurel, a promising keeper batsman, has been included as the second retention option behind Samson. Nitish Kumar Reddy he has also been rewarded with a call-up after his stunning performances in domestic cricket and the tour of Australia.
Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh will lead the pace attack while spin options include Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav. Riyan Parag, who is recovering from an injury, was not considered for selection.
Mohammed Shami’s return has been one of the biggest talking points since the team’s announcement. The experienced paceman has been out of the international scene for 14 months and will be eager to make an impact.
Indiathe defending T20 World Cup champions, have been dominant in the bilateral T20I series since their triumph in Barbados. The team has not lost a series since then and will look to continue that streak against England.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill they have rested. However, Abhishek Sharma managed to keep his position intact. Rinku Singh continues to strengthen the middle class. However, Ruturaj Gaikwad continues to be overlooked by the selectors, despite a superb domestic season.
India 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 (ed.).
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2025-01-11 17:41:00
