Here’s India’s probable lineup for the first T20I against England.

With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy wrapped up, India is now gearing up for the shorter formats of the game. The next challenge on their agenda is a five-match T20I series against England. While the primary goal for the team is the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025, this T20I series will serve as a crucial stepping stone towards the T20 World Cup in 2026, which will be hosted in India. Although the squad for the T20I series hasn’t been officially announced yet, it’s expected to resemble the team that toured South Africa last year. Suryakumar Yadav, who has established himself as a reliable captain for the T20I side, will lead the team. Players like Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson, who both shone during the South Africa tour with two centuries each, are likely to be key figures in the lineup. However, India will need to identify a solid opening partner for Samson, as Abhishek Sharma struggled in the previous series, which could open the door for Ruturaj Gaikwad to make his mark against England. Yashasvi Jaiswal is also in contention, but given his extensive participation in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, his chances of making the squad seem slim. In terms of batting depth, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma, and Ramandeep Singh are expected to round out the batting lineup, while all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel will add versatility to the team. Unfortunately, Jasprit Bumrah will miss the series due to an injury sustained during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which could pave the way for Prasidh Krishna to join the T20I squad after his impressive performance in the Sydney Test against Australia. The pace attack is likely to include Arshdeep Singh and Yash Dayal, while Ravi Bishnoi and Varun Chakravarthy are anticipated to be the spin options, providing a balanced mix of youth and experience as India looks to make a strong impression in the upcoming series.