The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against England. The series, set to begin on January 22 in Kolkata, will see Sanju Samson return to the T20I setup while veteran pacer Mohammed Shami makes a long-awaited comeback.
Samson In, Pant Left Out
Sanju Samson has been named as the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter, replacing Rishabh Pant, who has been 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 will continue to captain the side. His aggressive batting style has been a perfect fit for India’s attacking philosophy in recent times. Axar Patel has been handed vice-captaincy duties, a move that reflects his growing stature in the team.
With senior pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj out due to injuries, Mohammed Shami’s return comes as a significant boost for the bowling department. Shami last played for India in the ICC World Cup 2023 final and has since been out of action due to injury.
Fresh Faces and Key Inclusions
The squad features a few fresh faces. Dhruv Jurel, a promising wicketkeeper-batter, has been included as the second keeping option behind Samson. Nitish Kumar Reddy has also been rewarded with a call-up after his stellar performances in domestic cricket and on the Australia tour.
Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh will lead the pace attack, while spin options include Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav. Riyan Parag, who has been recovering from an injury, wasn’t considered for selection.
Mohammed Shami’s comeback is one of the biggest talking points from the squad announcement. The experienced pacer has been out of the international scene for 14 months and will be eager to make an impact.
India, the defending T20 World Cup champions, have been dominant in bilateral T20I series since their triumph in Barbados. The team hasn’t lost a series since then, and they’ll be looking to continue that streak against England.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill have been rested. However, Abhishek Sharma has been able to keep his place intact. Rinku Singh continues to bolster the middle order. However, Ruturaj Gaikwad continues to be ignored by the selectors despite a superb domestic season.
India’s 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 (wk).
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