Sanjay Bangar picks his Indian squad for IND vs ENG 2025 T20Is, includes Yashasvi Jaiswal as reserve top-order batter

Sanjay Bangar has picked his Indian squad for their upcoming T20I series against England. Yashasvi Jaiswal failed to make his first XI but was included as a reserve top-order batter.

India will face England in a five-match T20I series, with the first game to be played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on January 22. Jaiswal wasn't considered for India's last T20I series against South Africa as he was included in the Test squad for the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25.

During a discussion on the Star Sports show 'Follow the Blues', Bangar chose the top six in his preferred Indian playing XI and named Jaiswal as the backup top-order batter.

"For me, the top four are similar, wherein Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav along with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. No. 5 and No. 6 - Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube," he said.

"For me, the reserve top-order batter has to be Yashasvi Jaiswal. I would want him to be playing all three formats, at least to be in contention for all three formats. The backup wicketkeeper, that's a toss-up, it's a very hard one between a Rishabh Pant or a KL Rahul," the former India batting coach added.

Bangar reckons Rishabh Pant might pip KL Rahul for the second wicketkeeper-batter's position from a long-term perspective.

"If the need is batting in the top four, then yes, Rishabh Pant, or else KL Rahul. It's a toss-up but if you have to have a longer-term view, then Rishabh could be the guy. If Sanju Samson is unfit, then you can do away (manage) with playing Yashasvi at the top, drop one of the left-handers, and bring Rishabh Pant to bat at the No. 5 position. So Rishabh Pant," he elaborated.

Pant played all games in India's title-winning run in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Rahul hasn't played a T20I since the Men in Blue's semi-final exit from the 2022 T20 World Cup.

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"Prasidh Krishna is a bowler who can bowl really penetratively with the new ball and also in the middle overs" - Sanjay Bangar

Prasidh Krishna has picked up eight wickets in five T20Is. [P/C: Getty]

In the same discussion, Sanjay Bangar chose Prasidh Krishna as the specialist seamer alongside Arshdeep Singh in his playing XI.

"No. 7 and No. 8 are Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel. No. 9 is Kuldeep Yadav. No. 10 and No. 11 are Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna. For me, Prasidh Krishna is a bowler who can bowl really penetratively with the new ball and also in the middle overs. The backup spinner will be Varun Chakaravarthy. The backup pacer will be Khaleel Ahmed," he said.

Sanjay Bangar's Indian squad for T20Is vs England: Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Varun Chakaravarthy, Khaleel Ahmed