IND vs ENG: England Announces Playing XI for T20I Series Opener vs India

England cricket team has announced their playing XI for the first T20I against India at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on January 22. This time, Jos Buttler will be leading the team but won’t be keeping wickets. Instead, Phil Salt will don the keeping gloves. The pace attack for England will comprise Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, and Gus Atkinson as the main bowlers.

Firepower with bat and ball 💥

Brendon McCullum has named the first white-ball team of his reign for tomorrow's opening IT20 v India 💪 pic.twitter.com/DSFdaWVPrB

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 21, 2025

England have selected a powerful T20I opening lineup for the first T20I against India comprising Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, Ben Duckett, Liam Livingstone, and Harry Brook. As announced earlier, Buttler won’t be keeping, so Salt will keep wickets. Jacob Bethell, who made a solid impact since his debut against Australia last year has also come in, and he adds even more firepower to England’s batting order.

One specialist spinner, Adil Rashid is included in the bowling attack of England, and Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, and Mark Wood will lead the pace department. England have only one frontline spinner, but they do have backup options in Livingstone and Bethell, who can both bowl if needed.

The four who will sit out Saqib Mahmood, Rehan Ahmed, Brydon Carse, and keeper Jamie Smith have been dropped from the team for this match. Thus, England will look to face India, the defending T20 World Cup champions, and simultaneously aim to take revenge for its Test series defeat earlier in 2024.

England's Playing XI vs India In 1st T20I

Ben Duckett, Phil Salt (WK), Jos Buttler (C), Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.