Shubman Gill OUT, No Jasprit Bumrah Or KL Rahul; Hardik Pandya IN: India's Likely XI For 1st T20I vs England (Source: AP)
The BCCI on Saturday announced the India squad for the five-match T20I series against England, with ace pacer Mohammed Shami making a much-awaited return to the team. Senior players like Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Jasprit Bumrah were not picked in the squad. Barring Bumrah, all were able for selection, but the BCCI perhaps wanted them fresh for the ICC Champions Trophy. The players could well be part of the ODI squad. The squad for the England T20Is was more or less similar to the team that defeated South Africa in South Africa.
India's Predicted XI For 1st T20I
Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma should open the innings for India, followed by Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav and Rinku Singh. Abhishek Sharma did not have a great tour to South Africa, but he was backed as an opener ahead of Yashasvi Jaiswal so he needs to make the series count to save his place in the T20I team. Meanwhile, by picking Samson over Rishabh Pant, the selectors made a clear statement that the Kerala batter is now India's primary keeper in the T20I squad.
Hardik Pandya should be the fast-bowling all-rounder in the XI, while Axar Patel will be the spin all-rounder. Axar was also named the vice-captain of the side. Nitish Reddy could make his T20I debut in the first match. Reddy was rewarded for his stunning show in Australia and the odds of him playing in the first T20Is are really high. Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh should be the two pacers while Varun Chakravarthy should be the specialist spinner.
India's Likely XI For 1st T20I vs England: Sanju Samson (WK), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Reddy, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy.
India Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel (vice-capt), Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakravarthy, Washington Sundar
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