India are ready to begin their home T20I series against England, as Eden Gardens in Kolkata will host the five-match T20I series opener this Wednesday (January 22).

Captain Suryakumar Yadav is ready for a new beginning. Since he became the regular captain of the Indian T20I side after the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 trophy-winning campaign, Yadav’s team India suffered only one defeat out of 10 T20Is, where the Men in Blues won eight and tied once (with a victory in the Super Over).

See Also: England announce playing XI for Kolkata T20I

India vs England 1st T20I: India's predicted XI - No surprise in batting order

Just like their last South Africa tour, wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson should open with Abhishek Sharma, while Tilak Varma should bat at no.3.

Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, and the new vice-captain Axar Patel should take the middle-order batting role.

Mohammed Shami set to return

In the presence of the pacers Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami is set to return after more than a year, as he previously wore the Men in Blue jersey during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 Final against Australia. 

Spin choices: Varun Chakravarthy with new vice-captain

As the dew can play an important role in the Kolkata T20I, India should go with one regular spinner, especially when the left-arm spinner Axar Patel is present in the team. In-form leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy has huge experience at Eden Gardens, and it's time to cash in. 

Nitish Kumar Reddy can return

While there is still one spot left for the playing XI, the all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy can be the perfect fit. He can be useful both as a batter and a medium pacer. While the right-handed batter recently impressed during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia, he played three T20Is, all during the Bangladesh tour of India last October. The Delhi T20I was his second T20I, where he won the Player of the Match award for his incredible 74 off 34 balls and picking up two wickets (2/23). 

India's probable XI for Kolkata T20I

Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy.