India Prepares for England Series: Kris Srikkanth Reveals T20I Squad

As Team India arrives in England for a crucial series following a defeat against Ireland, former chief selector Kris Srikkanth shares his insights on the playing XI for the first two T20 matches. With a mix of established players and young talent, the squad aims to bounce back. Discover the match schedule and Srikkanth's thoughts on player selections in this detailed overview.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 30, 2026, 16:42 IST

India's Upcoming Series Against England

After facing a series loss to Ireland, the Indian cricket team has arrived in England, gearing up for a comprehensive series scheduled from July 1 to July 19. This tour will feature five T20 internationals and three one-day matches. Ahead of the series, former chief selector Kris Srikkanth shared his predicted playing XI for the initial two T20 matches. Notably, he chose to keep the opening duo of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, leaving out Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

In a discussion on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth explained his decision to overlook the young player. He stated, "Sooryavanshi should have definitely played in the second T20I against Ireland. Given that Abhishek Sharma scored a fantastic fifty in the first match, he should have been rested. Instead, Suryavanshi could have taken his place. Abhishek is a sure starter, so Vaibhav could have had an opportunity in the second match against Ireland." He further added, "He might have turned the game around, considering his strong performances in challenging IPL conditions. However, since he didn’t play against Ireland, I won’t include him in the first two T20Is against England."

In the series opener, Abhishek Sharma made a notable contribution with a half-century, while Samson unfortunately got out on the first ball. Both openers faced a similar fate in the second match, where India struggled to chase down a target of 183, resulting in a 34-run loss. The second game was even closer, with India losing by just one run, marking their first series defeat against Ireland.

Kris Srikkanth's Predicted XI for England

Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Prince Yadav

India vs England Match Schedule

The five T20 matches between India and England are set to take place on July 1, 4, 7, 9, and 11 across various venues including Chester-le-Street, Manchester, Nottingham, Bristol, and Southampton. The three ODIs will follow on July 14, 16, and 19 in Birmingham, Cardiff, and Lord's.