Preview: On Wednesday, January 22, India will play England in the opening Twenty20 International of the five-match series at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. After the Men in Blue defeated England in the T20 World Cup 2024 semifinals, this will be the first time the two sides play one another. In the shortest version of the game, India is ranked first, while the team captained by Jos Buttler is ranked third.
The team that went on tour in South Africa in November 2024 has seen some minor alterations from the hosts. Mohammed Shami’s return after a 14-month absence is the main discussion point. Arshdeep Singh and Shami will be in charge of the bowling attack. All-rounder Hardik Pandya has been replaced as vice captain by Axar Patel. Brendon McCullum, England’s head coach, has stated that Buttler will give up wicketkeeping responsibilities in order to concentrate on his role as captain. India has participated in seven Twenty20 Internationals in this legendary location, winning six of them and losing one to the English in 2011.
England tour of India, 2025, 1st T20 Match, IND vs ENG
Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Date & Time: Wednesday, January 22, 07:00 PM
Pitch Report: Batting-friendly pitches are a hallmark of the Eden Gardens. Dew will be crucial to the game. To date, the Eden Gardens has hosted 12 Twenty20 Internationals. While the chasing teams have won seven occasions, the batting first team has won five. Bowling first may therefore be a key factor in determining the team’s chances of winning the game.
PROBABLE PLAYING XI
India (IND): Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Varun Chakravarthy
England (ENG): Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood
