As of January 21, 2025, the cricketing world is abuzz with anticipation as India and England prepare to face off in a highly anticipated limited-overs series. This series, comprising five T20 Internationals (T20Is) and three One Day Internationals (ODIs), serves as a crucial precursor to the ICC Champions Trophy scheduled for later this year. Both teams are eager to fine-tune their strategies and assess player form ahead of the global tournament.
Series Overview
The series begins with the first T20I match on January 22, 2025, in the legendary Eden Gardens of Kolkata. The entire T20I match series is set to be played across some of India's greatest venues, bringing the action close to cricketing fans across India. After that, the entire ODI schedule will be a part of it, to be played in Nagpur, Cuttack, and Ahmedabad.
Complete Schedule
Twenty20 International (T20I) Series:
1. 1st T20I: Eden Gardens, Kolkata on January 22, 2025. 7:00 PM IST
2. 2nd T20I: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on 25 Jan, 2025. 7:00 PM IST
3. 3rd T20I: Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot on 28 Jan, 2025. 7:00 PM IST
4. 4th T20I : Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune 31st of January, 2025 7:00 pm IST
5. 5th T20I: 2 February 2025 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai – 7:00 PM IST
One Day International (ODI) Series:
1. 1st ODI: 6 February 2025 at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur – 1:30 PM IST
2. 2nd ODI: 9 Feb 2025 at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack – 1:30 PM IST
3. 3rd ODI: 12 Feb 2025 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad – 1:30 PM IST
Team Preparations and Strategies
India:
The Indian team, led by the captain Rohit Sharma, is preparing for a T20I series with a flexible middle-order strategy. According to all-rounder Axar Patel, except the openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, from the third batting position to seventh, the slots will be dynamic according to match situations and opposition bowlers. This would help in extracting the best possible performance by exploiting favorable match-ups and by proper utilization of batting resources.
In terms of bowling, India will be without pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for the series against England. However, the return of Mohammed Shami, who has recovered from an ankle injury, bolsters the pace attack. Shami's experience and form will be pivotal in leading the bowling unit during the series.
England
England's white-ball squad, now under the guidance of all-format head coach Brendon McCullum, is set to implement strategic changes. Notably, captain Jos Buttler will bat at the No.3 position and relinquish his wicket-keeping duties to focus on his batting and leadership roles. Phil Salt and Jamie Smith are the contenders for the wicket-keeping responsibilities. McCullum's approach would be to put the aggressive 'Bazball' mindset into the white-ball format that encourages an assertive and entertaining brand of cricket. The team has a powerful pace attack in the form of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, who have express pace and can pick up wickets. Adding dynamic players such as Harry Brook, who will be vice-captain, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, and Liam Livingstone adds depth to the batting line-up with a mix of youth and experience.
Key Players to Watch
India:
- Sanju Samson:Being an opening batsman, Sanju Samson's attacking approach and capability to give the Indian team early momentum will be significant in winning the T20I series.
- Axar Patel: As a vice-captain, Axar Patel will be providing a balance to the team through his batting and bowling capabilities. His leadership will play a crucial role in the flexible middle-order strategy.
- Mohammed Shami:He will lead the pace attack in Bumrah's absence, and his experience and skill in both the powerplay and death overs will be vital for India's bowling performance.
England:
- Jos Buttler:Buttler is going to bat at No.3. His explosive batting can anchor the innings and accelerate the scoring rate, making him a key figure in England's lineup.
- Jofra Archer: Back in international cricket, Archer's pace and ability to deliver under pressure make him a significant threat to the opposition's batting order.
- Harry Brook: As vice-captain, Brook's leadership and batting prowess add stability to the middle order, and his recent form suggests he will be a player to watch throughout the series.
Broadcast and Live Streaming Details
Cricket fans can enjoy live coverage of the India vs. England series from a number of broadcast and online streaming sources as follows:
- Television Broadcast:The series shall be televised live on the Star Sports network in India and, therefore, the whole series is comprehensively covered.
- Live Streaming: Online viewers of the series will get to enjoy live streams of the matches through Disney+ Hotstar on different digital gadgets.
- Radio Commentary: Live radio commentary of the matches will be provided by TalkSPORT 2 featuring experienced commentators such as Jon Norman and David Lloyd that will offer in-depth analysis and insights.
Ticketing Information
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