Jos Buttler, the England captain, has revealed the Playing XI for the first T20I against India set for Wednesday, January 22, at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Notably, Phil Salt will assume the wicketkeeping responsibilities, enabling Buttler to concentrate entirely on his role as a specialist batsman during the series. Head coach Brendon McCullum confirmed this change earlier.

For the series opener, Salt will open the innings alongside the left-handed Ben Duckett, with Buttler slated to bat at No. 3. England’s middle order features a dynamic lineup including Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, and all-rounder Jamie Overton. While Adil Rashid leads the spin attack, Livingstone will serve as the secondary spinner, adding depth with both bat and ball.
England’s pace battery boasts firepower with Jofra Archer and Mark Wood spearheading the attack, supported by Gus Atkinson as the third seamer. Overton is also expected to contribute with a few overs, adding balance to the bowling unit.
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Eden Gardens, known for its historic significance, has recently offered batting-friendly pitches. However, international T20Is at this venue have rarely seen easy runs. A first-innings score above 180 is expected to be a match-winning total, as no team has ever lost after posting 180 or more at this ground. With this in mind, Buttler and his side are likely to opt for batting first if they win the toss against Suryakumar Yadav’s India.
England’s playing XI for the first T20 against India 🇮🇳🏴@englandcricket #JosButtler #EnglandCricket #INDvsENG pic.twitter.com/MgRpILNhY9
— the_cricket_web (@the_cricket_web) January 21, 2025
In terms of head-to-head records, India holds a slight advantage over England with 13 wins out of 24 encounters, while England has emerged victorious in 11. The close contest between the two sides promises an electrifying series opener, as both teams aim to assert their dominance in this highly anticipated clash.
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England Playing XI for 1st T20I vs India
Phil Salt (WK), Ben Duckett, Jos Buttler (C), Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid and Mark Wood