IND vs ENG 1st T20I: No Shami! What is India’s playing XI for India vs England match?

Know India's playing XI for IND vs ENG 1st T20I at Eden Gardens with Mohammed Shami to miss out.

India playing XI for IND vs ENG: India takes on England in the first T20I at the iconic Eden Gardens. Winning the toss, India decided to bowl first. Leading the team is Suryakumar Yadav, who confirmed that star bowler Mohammed Shami will not play today. “The wicket looks sticky, there will be dew later on. It will be heavier later on. The boys have been amazing. The preparations have been good, looking forward to this series. It’s going to be great competition between both the sides. A good headache, we want to stick to our strengths.” he said.

Abhishek and Sanju to open: Know the players

Instead, the lineup for IND vs ENG 1st T20I includes Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson as openers, with Tilak Varma and Yadav himself in the batting order. The middle order is strengthened by Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, and Nitish Kumar Reddy. In the bowling department, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, and Varun Chakravarthy will look to make an impact. Other players like Jurel, Harshit Rana, and Washington Sundar are also sitting out this match.

India’s playing XI for IND vs ENG 1st T20I

 Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson(w), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy

Interesting pitch conditions and what to expect

The pitch at Eden Gardens has a bit of green and a dry surface, it is expected to favour bowlers slightly at the start but might turn into a high-scoring ground later on. The dew factor could also play a role in the outcome. This match marks the beginning of the five-match T20I series.

Where to watch IND vs ENG?

Fans can catch all the action live on Star Sports or stream it online through Hotstar.