Indian players are seen during a practice session ahead of the third Twenty20 international in Rajkot on January 27, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Vijay Soneji

Sitanshu Kotak was SoSed into the Indian dugout as batting coach ahead of the England T20Is after the team’s dismal show with the willow in Australia.

The inability of the India batters — including seniors Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli — to adjust to the conditions Down Under was a major point of discussion.

Kotak, however, is not worried about the sudden nature of the call-up and is looking forward to working with the veterans and guiding the youngsters.

“Rohit and Virat are very senior players. The amount of cricket they have played and the way they have performed, it would not be unfair to say there might be a lot of things for me to learn from them. That is the way this game goes,” Kotak said during the pre-match press conference of the third T20I at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot.

When asked if he has anything specific to convey to Rohit and Kohli, Kotak added: “If they are in a mindset to take any inputs, yes, I would have certain things in my mind and I will say it, but it has to be at the right time and they should feel that they are ready for that.”

Kotak opined that a proper “plan and mindset” are needed to strike the right balance between aggression and defence.

“We see a lot of batters playing aggressive cricket because of T20. I wouldn’t say they cannot defend. Australian pitches were different, Indian wickets were different and the next series will be in England. That will be a different challenge. So, how well we can execute our plans will be more important”.

England captain Jos Buttler addresses the media on the eve of the first T20 cricket match of the series against India, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, on January 21, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI

England captain Jos Buttler looked forward to working with new white ball coach Brendon McCullum.

On the eve of the five-match T20I series opener against India, Buttler said building the captain-coach alliance would be his priority.

“It’s not a new set-up because Baz (McCullum) has been around for a while and obviously there are a lot of players in this squad who have been with him in the Test set-up for a number of years already. Just looking forward to building that relationship in the white ball set-up,” said Buttler.

The England captain said the team management had not spoken about future big events and remained focussed on the present.

About the heavily loaded T20 schedule in the run-up to the 50-over Champions Trophy, Buttler said, “I’m not too worried about schedules or anything at the moment. I’m just looking forward to playing some matches.”

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.”

Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who sustained back spasms, is likely to be rested for the majority of India’s home white-ball series against England, keeping an eye on the ICC Champions Trophy, starting from February 19.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who sustained back spasms, is likely to be rested for the majority of India’s home white-ball series against England, keeping an eye on the ICC Champions Trophy, starting from February 19.

Bumrah, who was India’s stand out player with 32 wickets in their 1-3 thrashing at the hands of Australia in the just-concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy, couldn’t bowl in the final innings of the series in Sydney after suffering back spasms.

The 30-year-old Bumrah who bowled more than 150 overs in the series.

The injury has a direct link to his excessive workload in the series, and the BCCI medical team will try to ensure Jasprit Bumrah is ready for the ICC showpiece where his presence is mandatory to India’s fortunes.

According to sources privy to the development, the grade of Bumrah’s back spasm has not yet been ascertained.

India will open their Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh on February 20 in Dubai.

If Bumrah’s injury is in grade 1 category, then it will take a minimum two to three weeks of rehabilitation before Return to Play (RTP).

In case of Grade 2 injury, the recovery can go up to six weeks while Grade 3, the most severe in nature, requires a minimum three months of rest and rehabilitation programmes.

It was always known that Bumrah will not play T20I bilateral series as this is not the World Cup year, but with the Champions Trophy around the corner, he would have certainly played two if not three ODIs against England as it’s the 50-over format.

But now, the grade of his injury will decide whether Bumrah plays the England series at all or at least the last match at his home ground in Ahmedabad on February 12 to check on his fitness.

India will face England in five T20Is and three ODIs from January 22.