India v England T20 series preview

The much-anticipated clash between England and India kicks off on 22nd January, with the first of five T20Is taking place at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

This marks the first white-ball series meeting between the two since their thrilling three-match T20 series in 2022, where India emerged victorious with a 2-1 win. The hosts are favoured to come out on top again here but England have a very talented squad and will be determined to cause an upset.

England 6/5

England have announced a 15-man T20 squad packed with a variety of skills designed to tackle the challenging Indian conditions. However, notable absentees include Sam Curran, Will Jacks, and white-ball stalwart Ben Stokes, who is sidelined due to a hamstring injury sustained during the third Test against New Zealand.

Despite these setbacks, England will be eager to deploy the raw pace of Mark Wood and Jofra Archer, both returning after injury struggles. Their spin options look promising too, with Adil Rashid, Rehan Ahmed, Jake Bethell, and Liam Livingstone providing variety on typically dry and gripping pitches. The batting line-up remains formidable, led by Jos Buttler and supported by the explosive Harry Brook and Phil Salt.

India 4/6

India, meanwhile, are yet to announce their squad, but it’s confirmed they will be without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, both having retired from T20 cricket. According to The Times of India, players like Hardik Pandya, Shreyas Iyer, and Arshdeep Singh are tipped to feature. Pandya in particular could be a key figure given his current form and captaincy credentials. The host nation’s depth in both spin and pace bowling could also be decisive, especially in home conditions that often favour slower deliveries.

Historically, these two sides have produced closely fought battles with India holding a narrow edge, winning 13 of the 24 T20Is between them compared to England’s 11 wins. Recent form also adds intrigue. England come into this series fresh from a dominant 3-1 victory over the West Indies, with standout performances from Phil Salt, who smashed an unbeaten 103 off 54 balls, and Jos Buttler, who impressed with 83 off 45. On the bowling front, Saqib Mahmood claimed nine wickets in three games across the series, showcasing England’s depth and ability to strike in crucial moments.

India, however, have been on a different level in white-ball cricket, crowned champions at the ICC 2024 T20 World Cup. Left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh was pivotal in their campaign, topping the wicket charts with 17 scalps in 8 matches, while Rohit Sharma finished as the second-highest run-scorer with 257 runs. Their current line-up, brimming with in-form players and emerging talents, will be eager to keep their winning momentum alive.

The verdict

With the markets likely to heat up ahead of the opening fixture, keep an eye on top-order run-scorers, wicket-taking spinners, and the pace duo of Archer and Wood. Both teams have the firepower to deliver a thrilling series, and punters should also watch for unexpected standout performances in what promises to be a high-stakes encounter.