The men’s selection committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced the squad for the upcoming T20I series against England.
This exciting series is set to begin on January 22 in Kolkata, marking an important chapter in India’s cricketing calendar.
Notable Absences and Inclusion
One of the most talked-about decisions was the exclusion of star wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant.
He has been replaced by emerging talent Dhruv Jurel, who will serve as a backup to Sanju Samson.
Samson had an impressive run last year, scoring two centuries in T20 internationals, which certainly solidified his place in the squad.
Pant’s last T20I appearance dates back to July 2024, raising questions about his absence in this crucial fixture.
Upcoming Matches and Squad Details
The T20I series features five matches held across various cities in India, including Kolkata, Chennai, Rajkot, Pune, and Mumbai. Here is the match schedule:
- 22 January: 1st T20I, Kolkata (from 7 PM)
- 25 January: 2nd T20I, Chennai (from 7 PM)
- 28 January: 3rd T20I, Rajkot (from 7 PM)
- 31 January: 4th T20I, Pune (from 7 PM)
- 2 February: 5th T20I, Mumbai (from 7 PM)
India’s T20I squad includes
Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel (vice-captain), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Shami, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, and Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper).
With a balance of experience and youth, fans are eager to see how this team performs against a strong England side.