Key pacer returns as BCCI name squad for IND vs ENG 2025 T20I series

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the squad for the high-voltage five-game T20I series against England, which begins on January 22 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Mohammed Shami is a notable name in the 15-player squad as he is in line to play his first match for India in more than a year.

The 34-year-old's ankle injury kept him out of international cricket since the 2023 World Cup final against Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, causing him to go for surgery.

Although he marked his comeback in the domestic arena as he featured in the Ranji Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, a knee swelling threw him out of contention to join the Test squad in Australia.

A good performance in the T20 series against England will also put him in contention to represent the national team in the Champions Trophy, which commences on February 19.

Axar Patel has been appointed Suryakumar Yadav's deputy for the series, with Harshit Rana, Dhruv Jurel and Washington Sundar also marking returns after being part of the Test tour of Australia.

Team India squad: 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 (wk).

BCCI to announce ODI and Champions Trophy squads in due course

Team India. (Image Credits: BCCI Twitter)

The BCCI will announce the squads for the subsequent three-game ODI series against England and the Champions Trophy 2025 in due course. The T20I leg against England finishes on February 2 while the 50-over matches begin on February 6 in Nagpur.

Team India, who finished as the runners-up in the previous Champions Trophy edition in 2017, will open their 2025 campaign against Bangladesh on February 20 in Dubai.