Suryakumar Yadav will take charge as India’s captain for the upcoming five-match T20I series against England, as announced by the BCCI. This decision follows the exclusion of prominent players like Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant from the squad. While these players were part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, they are expected to play significant roles in the ODI series and the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy.
A major talking point in the squad announcement is the return of pacer Mohammed Shami, who has made a comeback after a prolonged injury layoff.
Suryakumar Yadav, known for his explosive batting, will be a key player for India in the T20I series. The 33-year-old is currently one of the best T20I players in the world, and his remarkable ability to hit sixes will be under the spotlight during this series. SKY has hit 145 sixes in just 78 T20I matches, and if he manages to score five more sixes in the upcoming series, he will make history. He would become the first player in T20I cricket among full ICC member nations to reach 150 sixes in fewer than 100 innings.
Currently, the record is held by New Zealand’s Martin Guptill, who achieved this milestone in 105 matches. India’s Rohit Sharma has also been a prolific six-hitter, having reached 150 sixes in 119 matches. It’s worth noting that Muhammad Waseem from the USA has already hit 150 sixes in under 100 T20I innings.
The T20I series is scheduled to begin on January 22, with the final match set for February 2. Following the T20I series, both teams will compete in a three-match ODI series. While much attention is being given to the upcoming Champions Trophy, the T20I series holds significant value as a vital preparation platform for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup. The outcome of this series will play a crucial role in shaping India’s T20I squad for the future.
India’s squad for T20I series against England: Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel (vc), Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Mohammad Shami, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel (wk).