KATHMANDU, Jan 22: The much-anticipated India versus England five-match T20I series will begin tonight at 7:30 pm at the famous Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata. Suryakumar Yadav will lead India, while Jos Buttler will captain England.
Following the five-match T20I series, these two cricketing behemoths will square off in a three-match ODI series, acting as a rehearsal for both teams ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
This will be India's first white-ball series against England since the dramatic three-match T20I series in 2022, which India won 2-1.
Suryakumar Yadav's team has dominated the shortest format, winning every bilateral T20 series since August 2023, and the skipper will look to build on the success of his overhauled squad as they prepare for the co-hosted T20 World Cup in February 2026.
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Following the retirement of mainstays Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, this series provides an opportunity for the Men in Blue to bring in new blood and build the team's future in the shortest format.
Notably, the hosts have signaled a flexible strategy for the forthcoming series, with recently appointed Vice-captain Axar Patel noting that the squad is willing to try out a floating batting lineup.
Meanwhile, despite reaching the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup last year, England were not at their best in the event, and their performances have been very disappointing since.
The Three Lions lost 3-2 in a five-match ODI series against old adversaries Australia in September last year, 2-1 to Pakistan in the five-day format a month later, and 2-1 to the West Indies in the last 50-over series of 2024.
Buttler's last trip resulted in a hard-fought Test series triumph over New Zealand in December, and they will be seeking to start 2025 on a high note, with Brendon McCullum now in command of the limited-overs squad after previously just being in control of the Test side.
However, the visitors will be aware that it will not be easy here, as they face an opponent who are much too excellent, having thrashed the ever-improving Bangladesh 3-0 at home prior to this series.
India have won 13 out of 24 T20 matches, including their most recent confrontation in the semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup in Guyana, whereas England has won 11 of these encounters.
