Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel, right, and coach Hemang Badani during the IPL T20 match against Chennai Super Kings at the Arun Jaitley cricket stadium in New Delhi on May 05, 2026.
| Photo Credit: R.V. MOORTHY

Rajasthan Royals’s Dhruv Jurel during a practice session ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) – 2026 match against Delhi Capitals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, Rajasthan on Thursday, April 30, 2026.
| Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Abhishek Sharma plays a shot during the IPL 2026 match against Delhi Capitals in Hyderabad on April 21, 2026
| Photo Credit: Nagara Gopal

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Abhishek Sharma. File
| Photo Credit: ANI

Axar Patel tries to stop a boundary during the T20 World Cup semifinal match between India and England at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 5, 2026.
| Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

To the fore again: Kuldeep’s bag of tricks proved too much for the Pakistan batters.
| Photo Credit: AP

England players are seen during a practice session ahead of the first Twenty20 international match in Kolkata on January 21, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI

With the change in colours of the ball and clothing, India, mostly with a different set of personnel, will be keen to live up to its World champion’s tag in the five-match T20I series against England, dubbed as ‘SKYball’ vs ‘Bazball,’ and redeem some pride following its Test series debacle in home and away against New Zealand and Australia respectively.

As the two sides need to switch fast from T20 to ODI cricket through eight matches over 22 days before taking a plunge in the prestigious Champions Trophy, a 50-over competition, in less than a month’s time, the Suryakumar Yadav-led home side will have a few challenges in hand when the series begins at the Eden Gardens here on Wednesday (January 22, 2025).

Pace ace Mohammed Shami’s return to international cricket after 14 months’ lay-off due to injury is much-awaited. As Jasprit Bumrah is doubtful for the Champions Trophy, Shami’s fitness will be closely watched.

T20 heroes Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill have been rested, whereas Nitish Reddy, the find of the tour Down Under, seamer Harshit Rana and wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel have a chance to shine.

Proven hands Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya and Rinku Singh in batting and Shami, Arshdeep Singh and first-time vice-captain Axar Patel in bowling may play key roles.

The focus will also be on coach Gautam Gambhir, who has faced some criticism after the two Test series defeats. The doughty Delhiite, who coached India to T20 series wins over Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, has captained and mentored Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to title wins in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and will look forward to his familiar turf and format to guide India to some positive results and revive his credibility.

England coach Brendon McCullum, a former KKR player and coach and the England Test team’s coach for more than two years, has taken over as the white ball coach of an international side for the first time and will be up for a new test.

McCullum’s entry has triggered the expectation of ‘Bazball’ cricket spicing up England’s limited overs game and reviving its fortune in limited-over World Cups.

While Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, skipper Jos Buttler and Harry Brook will be the leading batters for the visiting side, the bowling department will have the likes of Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson and Adil Rashid. Promising all-rounder Jacob Bethell with the experienced Liam Livingstone will provide balance.

Several English players’ IPL exposure should help the side.

While Eden has a reputation of staging exciting high-scoring duels, evening dew may impact decision-making and the course of the play.

Teams (from)

India (from): Suryakumar Yadav (capt.), Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel (v-capt.), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Shami, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel (wk).

England: Jos Buttler (capt.), Ben Duckett, Phil Salt (wk), Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.

Match starts: 7pm.

File photo of Axar Patel.
| Photo Credit: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar

Openers are the only ones with a fixed slot in the Indian T20 line-up and the batting order that follows will be made up of “multiple floaters”, new vice-captain Axar Patel said on Monday (January 20, 2025) while spelling out the team’s strategy ahead the five-match series against England.

India will start their campaign against England in a five-match T20I series at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday (January 22, 2025).

Asked about being a floater in batting order, the all-rounder replied: “…it’s not just about me; it applies to everyone in the team.

“Right from the start of 2024, we had decided to have a fixed opening slot, and from No. 3 to No. 7, everyone has been told to be flexible based on the situation, combinations, and match-ups.” Axar, who is now a part of the team management for the series, spoke in a manner that reminded one of Rohit Sharma’s interaction before the 2023 ODI World Cup where he called for flexibility in the middle-order.

“There is no fixed position where a particular batter will always play…it’s the same for everyone in that range (between Nos 3 to 7), depending on who is having a great day, which we assess during practice sessions.

“In T20 cricket, it’s all about utilising the right batter in the right situation.” There is not much that changes for Axar as Suryakumar Yadav’s deputy except for the fact that he will now also be a part of certain hard calls that are taken by the team management.

“It’s been only one day. Yes, we (skipper Surya, head coach Gautam Gambhir and myself) have had a discussion. There is an extra responsibility on the leadership group. There is not much of a change. Obviously, we have a settled T20 side, there is not much pressure.”

“When you come into the leadership group, obviously you have to take some harsh decisions. Those also we have spoken about. It is about having a genuine opinion and keeping trust on each other.” This is the national team’s first game after the Test debacle in Australia and the all-rounder doesn’t want to fret on the bygones.

“Hum yeh bhi baat karte hain ki, jo ho gaya woh ho gaya, woh wapas nahin aanewala (Let bygones be bygones). It is about taking the positives into our next series,” he said.

Axar also welcomed veteran pacer Mohammed Shami’s return to the national set-up for the first time since ODI World Cup final on November 19, 2023. Shami had been struggling with a knee niggle after recuperating from an ankle surgery.

“It’s a very positive thing for the team. The last time he (Shami) played was in the ODI World Cup final, and since his recovery, he has performed well in both the Syed Mushtaq Ali and Vijay Hazare tournaments,” he said, referring to Shami’s recent comeback in the domestic circuit.

“Whenever a senior player makes a comeback, it gives a big boost to the team. We all know what Shami bhai brings to the table, whether it’s with the new ball or in the death overs.

“His presence, especially with the new ball, is a huge advantage for the team. Hopefully, he continues the same form he showcased in the World Cup.”

Axar Patel’s rescue act (86, 118b, 6×4, 6×6), which included an 84-run ninth-wicket partnership with Arshdeep Singh, prevented India-D’s Duleep Trophy fixture against India-C from turning into a one-sided affair here on Thursday (September 5, 2024).

Axar sparked the contest to life in the second session, pulling the crowd back which was otherwise falling into a post-lunch snooze, with two sixes and a boundary off Manav Suthar. He was indiscriminate against the second spinner, Hrithik Shokeen, too, heaving him for sixes over long on and long off off successive deliveries.

Vyshak strikes

But the rearguard collapsed with the return of V. Vyshak, who forced Arshdeep into picking backward point with a bouncer. Axar miscued his slog sweep off Shokeen to deep-midwicket, bringing India-D’s innings to an end at 164.

Abishek Porel and B. Indrajith combined for an unbeaten 58-run fifth-wicket alliance to lead India-C to 91 for four at stumps, cutting the team’s deficit to just 73. But the twin strikes from Harshit Rana and Axar ensured their team was still in the contest, given its batting implosion earlier in the day.

Cornered

Asked to bat under overcast conditions, Shreyas Iyer’s side was cornered after five of its batters returned inside the first 11 overs.

Atharva Taide was rushed into a hook and holed out at fine leg in the first over. Yet Vyshak opted against a short-ball ploy, the proven nemesis of the talismanic Shreyas, and squared up the India-D skipper with lateral movement, getting him to edge to the wicketkeeper.

Devdutt Padikkal lasted four deliveries, driving Vyshak straight to covers. Ricky Bhui was the next to perish against the short-pitched delivery, top-edging an attempted pull against Himanshu.

At 34 four five, Axar and K.S. Bharat were forced to drop anchor. But it proved only a momentary halt in the slide when Suthar induced Bharat’s outside edge that was pouched at first slip.

India-D plunged further into disarray at 76 for seven when Saransh Jain was run out after a mix up with Axar. The all-rounder, however, stood vindicated with his match-saving heroics thereafter.

The scores: India-D — 1st innings: Atharva Taide c Vyshak b Kamboj 4, Yash Dubey c Porel b Kamboj 10, Shreyas Iyer c Porel b Vyshak 9, Devdutt Padikkal c Ruturaj b Vyshak 0, Ricky Bhui c Kamboj b Himanshu 4, K.S. Bharat c Indrajith b Suthar 13, Axar Patel c Suthar b Shokeen 86, Saransh Jain (run out) 13, Harshit Rana c Patidar b Himanshu 0, Arshdeep Singh c Suthar b Vyshak 13, Aditya Thakare (not out) 0; Extras (b-10, w-1, nb-1): 12; Total (in 48.3 overs): 164.

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-23, 3-23, 4-23, 5-34, 6-48, 7-76, 8-76, 9-160.

India-C bowling: Kamboj 12-0-47-2, Vyshak 12-3-19-3, Himanshu 9-2-22-2, Suthar 7-2-34-1, Shokeen 8.3-1-32-1.

India-C — 1st innings: Ruturaj Gaikwad c Bharat b Rana 5, Sai Sudharsan c Taide b Rana 7, Aryan Juyal c & b Axar 12, Rajat Patidar b Axar 13, B. Indrajith (batting) 15, Abishek Porel (batting) 32; Extras (b-5, lb-1, nb-1): 7; Total (for four wkts. in 33 overs): 91.

Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-14, 3-40, 4-43.

India-D bowling: Rana 7-5-13-2, Arshdeep 8-1-24-0, Thakare 7-1-18-0, Axar 6-1-16-2, Saransh 5-1-14-0.

Toss: India-C.

Suryakumar Yadav in action during the first T20 International cricket match of a series between India and Sri Lanka at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, in Pallekele on July 27, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

India all-rounder Axar Patel says new T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav is a bowlers’ captain, who allows them the freedom to execute their plans. The spin all-rounder also said that the team will look to maximise its batting combinations in the ongoing series against Sri Lanka.

Suryakumar and India made a winning start to the three-match series in Pallekele on July 28 when they crushed hosts Sri Lanka by 43 runs in a high scoring opening T20I.

“I played in the last Australia series with Surya bhai (as captain). I know that he is a bowlers’ captain. He gives you free hand (in a way) that you decide first,” Axar said at the post-match press conference on July 27. “Whenever you get hit, he comes and says that it was a good ball. He keeps giving you inputs. As a player, there is a good bond with him.”

Axar recalled the experience of playing under Suryakumar in the five-match T20I series against Australia in India late last year which the hosts won 4-1. “As a captain, I have also played with him in the last five matches (against Australia) and when I was playing today, I didn’t feel much change,” he said.

“In the first three overs when we were going for runs, he was telling me that we can do this or do that and how we can take a wicket. There is no problem if a four or six goes in it. As a bowler, you get confidence from that if the captain is backing you and telling you that you can do this.”

Axar said India’s batting line-up in the opening T20I which did not feature Rishabh Pant at the top was formulated with the idea that the team maximises its left and right-hand options.

In the last assignment, the T20 World Cup which India won, Pant batted at No 3 whereas on July 27 skipper Suryakumar came out at the coveted spot and the wicketkeeper-batter dropped down to No 4. “Our team has four lefties and four righties. If there is a left-right combination (in the middle), it becomes very hard for the bowlers to maintain the line and lengths consistently especially with rotations with singles.”

“Now if there are four lefties, how can you use them? If you have that chance (to ensure) that there are no two lefties or two righties (in the middle) at the same time,” he said, adding, “If you have that chance, if you have those players in batting, then why not use them? You also have to keep changing the batting order as per the bowling options that the opposition has got.”

On Gautam Gambhir

The spinner said the message from India’s new staff under head coach Gautam Gambhir has been that the team will not experience a major overhaul in the way it operated.

While fielding coach T. Dilip has continued in his role, Abhishek Nayar, Sairaj Bahutule and Dutchman Ryan ten Doeschate are now a part of Gambhir’s support staff for this tour of Sri Lanka as positions will be finalised after the tour ends.

“I have been playing for 10 years. I have played with different coaches and captains. I don’t think a lot will change in the team,” he said. “When we were talking in the team meeting, they also said the same thing that the coach and captain keep changing but the team remains the same and the 11 or 15 players who stay, they have to do it,” he said.

“They have told us that we will play the way we have been playing. Obviously, the coach and his input can be different. The thinking can be different, they keep telling you here and there. But there is not much change in the team’s atmosphere,” he added.