Meet James Coles: The New Face of England's T20I Squad Ahead of India Series

James Coles, an uncapped left-arm spin bowling all-rounder, has been selected for England's T20I squad for the upcoming series against India. This marks his first call-up, and he joins a team led by Harry Brook. Coles has made a name for himself in T20 competitions, showcasing impressive stats. The series kicks off on July 1 in Durham, with matches scheduled across various venues. Discover more about Coles' journey and the complete squad details in this article.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 22, 2026, 22:51 IST

James Coles Joins England's T20I Team

London: Uncapped left-arm spin bowling all-rounder James Coles has received his first call-up to the England T20I squad for the upcoming five-match series against India, commencing on July 1 at Chester-le-Street in Durham.

Harry Brook will captain the team, which sees the return of Jordan Cox, Sonny Baker, and Saqib Mahmood, all of whom were absent during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup earlier this year. Unfortunately, Brydon Carse and Jamie Overton will miss out due to injuries.

At just 22 years old, Coles, who became the most expensive player in the 2026 Men’s Hundred competition, has previously played for Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20 and the England Lions. He has scored 1,373 runs in 61 T20 innings, averaging 28.60 with a strike rate of 146.37, including seven fifties.

Coles made history as Sussex’s youngest first-class debutant at the age of 16 years and 157 days. He has also made a mark with his bowling, taking 53 wickets at an average of 26.94 and an economy rate of 8.27, which includes three four-wicket hauls.

National selector Marcus North commented, "James Coles is an exciting addition and has earned his place following his performances with the England Lions and in T20 competitions here and abroad during the past 12 months."

He added, "We have selected a larger squad to accommodate the fact that this series will begin shortly after the Test series against New Zealand concludes, allowing us to be flexible."

Interestingly, Brook and Jacob Bethell will have a quick turnaround, as the first T20I against India is set to start less than 48 hours after the conclusion of the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, assuming the match lasts the full five days.

After the series opener in Durham, the remaining T20I matches will take place at Old Trafford in Manchester (July 4), Trent Bridge in Nottingham (July 7), Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol (July 9), and will conclude at the Rose Bowl in Southampton on July 11.

The England squad includes: Harry Brook (Captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, James Coles, Jordan Cox, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, and Luke Wood.