Cricket fans are in for a treat as India takes on England in the first T20I of a five-match series at the iconic Eden Gardens, Kolkata. After an intense red-ball season, India is ready to return to the electrifying world of T20 cricket. Here’s everything you need to know about the much-anticipated clash.
A New Era for Team India
Following the retirement of stalwarts like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja, Team India has embraced a fearless approach under Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership. The team’s young guns, including Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy, have stepped up, solidifying India’s reputation as T20 World Champions. Supported by experienced players like Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh, and Hardik Pandya, India aims to maintain their dominance in the shortest format of the game.
With Gautam Gambhir mentoring the team, the focus remains on nurturing this new generation of talent, as they prepare to face England in a high-stakes series opener.
Venue Insights: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
The Eden Gardens pitch is known for producing high-scoring encounters, and with dew expected to play a significant role in the second innings, teams may prefer chasing. India might opt for just two spinners in their playing XI to adapt to these conditions.
Players to Watch
- Mohammed Shami (India): Making his T20I comeback after over a year, the veteran pacer is eager to make an impact. Having proven his fitness through domestic cricket, Shami is set to be a key figure in India’s bowling attack as he eyes a spot in the Champions Trophy squad.
- Jacob Bethell (England): A rising star at just 21, Bethell impressed during the ODI series against the West Indies. Signed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2025 auction, Bethell will look to leave a mark in his maiden T20I series in India.
Predicted Playing XIs
India:
Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel (vc), Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy.
England:
Jos Buttler (c), Harry Brook (vc), Phil Salt (wk), Jacob Bethell, Liam Livingstone, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.
India vs England: Head-to-Head Record
India and England have faced off in 24 T20Is, with India leading the tally with 13 wins. Their last encounter was in the semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup, where India emerged victorious.
Match Details
- Date and Time: January 22, 2025, starting at 7 PM IST.
- Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
- Broadcast: Star Sports Network (Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 Tamil, Star Sports 1 Telugu, Star Sports 1 Kannada – available in both HD and SD).
- Live Streaming: Available on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website.
Get ready for an action-packed series opener as two cricketing giants face off in Kolkata!
