of 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 much-awaited comeback.
Samson In, Pant Left Out
Sanju Samson has been named as the holder's first choice batting, replacing Rishabh Pantswho is retired. Samson's recent performances in T20Is have earned him his place and he is expected to play a key role at the top of the order.
Suryakumar Yadav will continue to be the captain of the team. His aggressive batting style has been a perfect fit for India's attacking philosophy in recent times. Axar Patel has taken over as vice-captain, a move that reflects his rising status in the team.
With senior pacers jasprit bumrah AND Muhammad Siraj out due to injuries, the return of Mohammed Shami comes as a significant boost to the bowling department. Shami last played for India in the final of the ICC World Cup 2023 and has been sidelined since then due to injury.
Fresh faces and key inclusions
The squad features some fresh faces. Dhruv Jurel, a promising striker, has been included as the second holding option behind Samson. Nitish Kumar Reddy has also been rewarded with a call-up after his excellent performance in domestic cricket and the tour of Australia.
Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh will lead the pace attack while spin options include Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav. Riyan Parag, who is recovering from an injury, was not considered for selection.
Mohammed Shami's return is one of the biggest talking points since the squad announcement. The experienced pacer has been out of the international scene for 14 months and will be eager to make an impact.
INDIAthe reigning T20 World Cup champions have been dominant in the bilateral T20I series since their triumph in Barbados. The team has not lost a series since then, and they will be looking to continue that streak against England.
Yashasvi Jaiswal AND Shubman Gill are retired. However, Abhishek Sharma has been able to keep his place intact. Rinku Singh continues to strengthen the middle order. However, Ruturaj Gaikwad continues to be ignored by the selectors despite a brilliant domestic season.
India 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 (vk).
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