India vs England: How does the India playing XI look like for the 1st T20I?

The Indian squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against England has been announced, with Suryakumar Yadav appointed as the captain. This squad features a blend of young talent and experienced players, creating much excitement among fans and experts alike. As India prepares to face a formidable English team, there is a great deal of anticipation surrounding the performances of some of the newer players who will be stepping onto the international stage. With the series set to begin in just 10 days, cricket experts have already begun speculating about which players will make it to the playing eleven for each match. This series presents an excellent opportunity for India's young players to make their mark and strengthen the team’s dominance in the T20 format.

Former India opener and commentator Aakash Chopra has also weighed in, sharing his predicted playing eleven for the series. Chopra, known for his sharp cricket insights, believes that this young Indian team, which is rich in talent and energy, will be keen to impress and continue their strong performances in the shortest format. With several exciting new faces and a few experienced stars like Suryakumar Yadav leading the charge, India is looking to maintain their competitiveness and raise their game against England's formidable squad.

Aakash Chopra has selected his playing eleven for India's upcoming T20I series against England, with some interesting picks. He has opted for Sanju Samson as the wicketkeeper and opener, alongside young all-rounder Abhishek Sharma. The top order will feature Tilak Varma and skipper Suryakumar Yadav. The middle order includes Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Rinku Singh, and Axar Patel, with Axar surprisingly named as vice-captain ahead of Pandya. The tail is completed by mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, pacer Mohammed Shami, and Arshdeep Singh.

India finished the 2024 season as the number-one ranked team in T20Is, having lost just one match in their last three series. In their most recent series against South Africa, India triumphed 3-1, with Tilak Varma named player of the series. The highlight of the series was India's record-breaking performance in the fourth T20I, where they posted their highest total in T20I history—283 runs. Tilak Varma played a blistering knock, scoring 120 runs from just 47 balls at a strike rate of 255.31. This match also saw South Africa suffer their biggest defeat by runs in T20Is.

Aakash Chopra's India playing XI for the 1st T20I against England

Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel (vc), Varun Chakaravarthy, Mohammad Shami and Arshdeep Singh.