All the steps are ready for the 1st T20I thing in the middle India and England to The Gardens of Eden in Kolkata. This will be the first meeting between the two countries in the five-match T20I series. The Indian team will be in first place if they lose Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. On the other hand, England arrived in India victorious new Zealand in a 3-match Test series.
All eyes are on the Indian team after they failed their test
The performance of the Indian team has not been good in the last few months. The team has slowly lost momentum since the ODI series defeat Sri Lanka, followed by a record white-wash against New Zealand. The recent defeat by Australia was another chapter of backlash for Indian fans. So, Indian fans are hoping that the team will get a chance to win in front of them Champions Trophy 2025.
Also Read: IND vs ENG: England reveal playing XI for first T20I against India; Harry Brook was named vice-captain
Here is India's Predicted XI for the 1st T20I against England
1. Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek Sharma is responsible for meeting the English batsmen and giving the team the much needed start in the T20I series. The 24-year-old has impressed with the ball which has shown his Punjab team well.
2. Sanju Samson
This is a precious opportunity for Sanju Samson to show why he should be a regular starter for the Indian team in white ball cricket. The stakes are high for the 30-year-old who has not played in India since the tour of South Africa in November 2024.
3. Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav is the captain of the Indian team in the T20I format and is popular for his versatile game. Fans are hoping that SKY will lead his Indian team from the front and guide them to victory against England. Apart from his leadership, India is also relying on his amazing batting skills to get through the English bowling division.
4. Tilak Varma
Like Yadav, Tilak Varma also has a strong reputation and the ability to change according to the conditions of the game. Tilak will be responsible for providing stability and maintaining the pace of the team's challenges.
5. Hardik Pandya
Undoubtedly, Hardik Pandya is the cornerstone of this team's strength. India's chances in the T20I series would be in jeopardy without a better performance with the bat and the ball. Pandya has the potential to change the game with his exceptional skills in white ball cricket. As a result, the team and fans will be eagerly waiting for him to deliver and live up to his record.
6. Rinku Singh
Rinku Singh has shown his talent in the T20I format in the past and has emerged as a regular starter in the Indian team in the shortest format. His explosive batting can be seen in pictures of Eden Gardens.
7. Axar Patel
India will rely on Axar Patel's all-round skills throughout the series. Axar can provide valuable depth to the batting line-up and bowl the much needed replacements, while trying to pick up important wickets in the process. Hence, Axar is expected to be an important part of the Playing XI.
8. Muhammad Shami
This will be the first time that Mohammed Shami will be playing in an Indian jersey after the ODI World Cup 2023. The Indian pace sensation will need to catch his tune and come out on top before the all-important Champions Trophy 2025.
9. Arshdeep Singh
The young pacer is known for his wicket-taking ability and his outstanding performance in the team. The team would have relied on Arshdeep for all these important things and troubled the English batsmen with his sharp deliveries.
10. Nitish Rana
The current T20I series is an opportunity for Nitish Rana to showcase his talent and impress the team management. The youngster has not been included in the Champions Trophy squad and thus the series against England is a rare opportunity for the young pacer to shine before the match.
11. Varun Chakraborty
The successful domestic batsman impressed during the Vijay Hazare Trophy and is expected to start the playing XI for the 1st T20I. In addition, the inclusion of leg-wingers in the team would suit Axar's bowling on the other side and could be a bone of contention for the English batsmen.