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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 will begin on January 22 in Kolkata, will see Sanju Samson return to the T20I set-up while veteran pacer Mohammed Shami makes a long-awaited return.
Samson in, pants out
Sanju Samson has been named first-choice wicketkeeper-batsman, replacing the rested Rishabh Pant. Samson’s recent performances in T20Is have earned him the spot and he is expected to play a key role at the top of the order.
Suryakumar Yadav will continue to be the captain of the team. His aggressive batting style has fit perfectly with India’s attacking philosophy of late. Axar Patel has been given the duties of vice-captain, a move that reflects his growing stature in the team.
With senior pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj out due to injuries, Mohammed Shami’s return comes as a significant boost to the bowling department. Shami last played for India in the 2023 ICC World Cup final and has since been out of action due to injury.
New faces and key inclusions
The team has some new faces. Dhruv Jurel, a promising wicketkeeper-batsman, has been included as the second keeping option behind Samson. Nitish Kumar Reddy has also been rewarded with a call-up following his stellar performances in domestic cricket and on the tour of Australia.
Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh will lead the pace attack, while the spin options include Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav. Riyan Parag, who is recovering from an injury, was not considered for the selection.
Mohammed Shami’s return is one of the biggest topics of the team’s announcement. The experienced pacer has been off the international scene for 14 months and will be eager to make an impact.
Defending T20 World Cup champions India have dominated the bilateral T20I series since their triumph in Barbados. The team has not lost a series since then and will look to continue that streak against England.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill have been rested. However, Abhishek Sharma has been able to keep his place intact. Rinku Singh continues to strengthen the middle order. However, Ruturaj Gaikwad continues to be ignored by the selectors despite a magnificent domestic season.
India squad 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, Mohammad Shami, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel (week).
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