India vs England: India squad announced for the England T20Is

The wait for the return of ace seamer, Mohammed Shami in the ICT is finally over. The seasoned pacer has been named in the India squad for the T20I series of the England Tour of India. The five-match T20I series kicks off on January 22 before the three-match ODI series is scheduled in February just ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy. Anticipatedly, Shami will be assisted by Arshdeep Singh in the pace line up as both Bumrah and Siraj have been rested after a gruelling Test season. The pace lineup further names Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy both of whom debuted for India in the Border Gavaskar Trophy down under.

Mohammed Shami returns, Axar Patel named vice-captain: India squad announced for England T20I series

Mohammed Shami, who last played for India during the 2023 ODI World Cup, made his comeback to competitive cricket in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last year and also featured for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy. The pacer had been sidelined due to an ankle injury, which required surgery, and was initially expected to return during the Border Gavaskar Trophy. However, another injury setback kept him out of that series. The BCCI, in a statement, explained that Shami needed "more time for controlled exposure to bowling loads." 

Further details into the India squad reveal spin all-rounder Axar Patel as the vice-captain, his first take on the leadership role. Moreover, Varun Chakaravarthy, who impressed during India’s last T20I series against South Africa, keeps his place, joined by Ravi Bishnoi and Washington Sundar. 

A look at the Suryakumar Yadav-led squad for the T20I series against England 🙌#TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/nrEs1uWRos

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 11, 2025

The batting order has named young opener Abhishek Sharma in the lineup despite a meek show in the South Africa series. Tilak Varma, who impressed with consecutive centuries in Africa keeps his place, possibly above captain Suryakumar Yadav in the batting order. Furthermore, Hardik Pandya comes down the order along with swashbuckling batter Rinku Singh. However, one notable absentee is Rishabh Pant, India’s star wicketkeeper-batter, who is missing from the T20I squad. With the immediate priority being the ICC Champions Trophy, Pant could possibly be put on rest before the ODI series kicks off in February. With Pant unavailable, Sanju Samson, who scored a century as an opener in South Africa, is expected to be the first-choice wicketkeeper, with Dhruv Jurel named as his backup.

India squad for the England T20I series:

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).