BCCI announces Indian squad for T20I series against ENG: Samson and Shami return

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 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 Sanju Samson return to the T20I line-up, while veteran pacer Mohammed Shami makes a much-awaited comeback.

Samson in, punt left out

Sanju Samson was named as first choice wicketkeeper-batter, substitute Rishabh Pantwhich is rested. Samson’s recent performance in T20Is has earned him a spot and he is expected to play a key role at the top of the order.

Suryakumar Yadav he will continue to captain the side. His aggressive batting style fits perfectly with India’s attacking philosophy in recent times. Axar Patel has been given the vice-captaincy, a move that reflects his rising status in the team.

With senior pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj due to injuries, the return of Mohammed Shami comes as a significant boost to the bowling department. Shami last played for India in the 2023 ICC World Cup final and has been sidelined with injury ever since.

Fresh faces and key inclusions

The team has several fresh faces. Dhruv Jurel, a promising goalkeeper striker, has been included as the second retention option behind Samson. Nitish Kumar Reddy he was also rewarded with a call after his stellar performances in domestic cricket and the Australian tour.

Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh will lead the pace attack while spin options include Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav. Riyan Parag, who is recovering from injury, was not considered for selection.

Mohammed Shami’s return is one of the biggest topics in the squad announcement. The experienced pacer has been out of the international scene for 14 months and will be eager to make an impact.

Indiathe defending T20 World Cup champions have been dominant in 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 they rested. However, Abhishek Sharma managed to keep his place intact. Rinku Singh continues to strengthen the middle order. However, Ruturaj Gaikwad continues to be ignored by selectors despite an excellent 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 (ie).

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