England Cricket Board has announced Jos Buttler led England's playing XI for the first T20I against India which is scheduled to take place on January 22 at Eden Gardens Kolkata. White ball captain Jos Buttler will feature as a specialist batter and Phil Salt to keep wickets. England will feature four speedsters in the first clash. Mark Wood has returned to the line-up for the first time since August last year. He played his last international match in June against South Africa during T20 World Cup 2024.
RCB picked star Jacob Bethell who has been picked by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction will play his maiden clash on Indian soil in the first T20I.
England are scheduled to play a five-match T20I series against India, after finishing the first T20I, the second and third matches will be held on January 25 and 28 in Chennai and Rajkot, respectively. The fourth game of the series will be played on January 31 in Pune. Mumbai will host the final match of the T20I series on February 2.
This will be England's first assignment of the year and the side will start their white-ball era under Brendon McCullum with the coach promising the same attacking brand of cricket that has been the hallmark of his coaching.
The New Zealand cricketing legend started a new aggressive approach to the test squad after taking over in 2022, with Matthew Mott continuing to coach England in the shorter formats.
However, Mott stepped down from the role after England's dismal outing in the T20 World Cup and ODI World Cup in the space of seven months across 2023-24
England are scheduled to play five T20Is and three ODIs against India which will be the last assignment for both sides before the Champions Trophy 2025. Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to start from February 19 where India will play all their matches in Dubai and Pakistan will host the rest of the matches.
Rohit Sharma-led India will start their campaign against Bangladesh on February 20 and on the other hand, England will face Australia in their opener clash on February 22 in Lahore.
England Playing XI: Phil Salt (wk), Ben Duckett, Jos Buttler (c), Harry Brook (vc), Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.