January 22, 2025: In the first T20I of the five-match series between India and England at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and chose to bowl first. With India having an impressive track record against England in the T20I format, the team is eager to extend their winning streak, having triumphed in four consecutive series.
Suryakumar mentioned that the pitch looked sticky, and with the likelihood of dew later in the game, it would be heavier as the match progresses. He expressed confidence in the team’s preparations and expected a competitive series. Mohammed Shami, who was expected to return after the 2023 ODI World Cup, was notably absent from the playing XI for the first match.
On the other hand, England captain Jos Buttler acknowledged that the conditions at Eden Gardens would make for an exciting match, also noting the potential for dew. He highlighted that the team was ready for the challenge, with new coach Brendon McCullum bringing vast experience to the side. Buttler also shared that Saqib Mahmood, Brydon Carse, Jamie Smith, and Rehan Ahmed would miss out for England.
India’s Playing XI:
- Abhishek Sharma
- Sanju Samson (w)
- Tilak Varma
- Suryakumar Yadav (c)
- Hardik Pandya
- Rinku Singh
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Axar Patel
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Arshdeep Singh
- Varun Chakravarthy
England’s Playing XI:
- Ben Duckett
- Philip Salt (w)
- Jos Buttler (c)
- Harry Brook
- Liam Livingstone
- Jacob Bethell
- Jamie Overton
- Gus Atkinson
- Jofra Archer
- Adil Rashid
- Mark Wood
The game promises to be an exciting contest, with both teams boasting powerful line-ups.