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, which is scheduled to begin on January 22 in Kolkata, will see the return of Sanju Samson to the T20I setup while veteran pacer Mohammed Shami makes his much-awaited return.
Samson in, Pant left out
Sanju Samson He was selected as the first choice wicket-keeper, replacing Rishabh Pantwho got a break. Samson's recent performances in T20Is have earned him that spot, and he is expected to play a key role at the top of the order.
Suryakumar Yadav He will continue to lead the team. His aggressive style of batting has been a perfect fit for India's attacking philosophy in recent times. Axar Patel has been handed vice-captain duties, a move that reflects his growing stature in the team.
With the top contestants Jasprit Bumrah and Muhammad Siraj After his absence due to injuries, the return of Mohammed Al-Shami comes as a big boost for the bowling department. Shami last played for India in the 2023 ICC World Cup final and has since been sidelined due to injury.
New faces and major inclusions
The team includes some new faces. Dhruv Gurriel, the promising wicket-keeper-batsman, has been listed as the second save option behind Samson. Nitish Kumar Reddy He was also rewarded with a call-up after his impressive performances in domestic cricket and on the tour of Australia.
Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh He will lead the pace attack, while spin options include Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav. Ryan Barrage, who was recovering from injury, was not selected.
The return of Mohamed Al-Shami is one of the biggest talking points in the team announcement. The experienced player has been out of the international scene for 14 months and will be keen to make an impact.
Indiathe defending T20 World Cup champions, has dominated the bilateral T20I series since their victory in Barbados. The team has not lost a series since then, and they will look to continue that streak against England.
Yashavi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill They rested. However, Abhishek Sharma has managed to keep his spot intact. Rinku Singh continues to strengthen the middle order. However, Ruturaj Gaikwad's side continues to be overlooked by the selectors despite an impressive domestic season.
India lineup 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, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, WA . Sundar, Dhruv Gurel (week).
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