IND vs ENG, 1st T20I: England national cricket team have named their playing XI for the first of the five T20Is against Team India set to commence on July 1, Wednesday at the Chester-le-Street, Durham. Harry Brook will lead the side but there is no Jofra Archer, while the hosts have named two specialist spinners in Liam Dawson and Adil Rashid for the series-opener on Wednesday.
IND vs ENG, 1st T20I: Why has Jofra Archer not been included for the series-opener in Durham?
With the right-arm speedster spending the best part from 2021-2023 on the sidelines due to several injuries and returning to the fold only in 2024, the management has decided to rest him for the series-opener. Archer also played back-to-back Tests against New Zealand, carrying heavy workload as the spearhead of the bowling attack. Left-arm pacer Luke Wood is expected to share the new-ball duties with Saqib Mahmood, while Will Jacks and Sam Curran will take the field as all-rounders. India and England last played in a T20I in the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The hosts had won the match by seven runs, overcoming a spirited England, who were chasing 254 for victory.
England XI for 1st T20I: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, Harry Brook (c), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood.
IND vs ENG, 1st T20I: When did England last beat India in a bilateral T20 series?
Meanwhile, England haven’t beaten the Men in Blue in a T20I bilateral series since 2014, with the Asian powerhouse getting the better of the Englishmen on all the occasions ever since. However, the home side will take confidence from India’s recent T20I series loss to Ireland and look to put them more under pressure.
Nevertheless, England are also coming into the series after an abject surrender to New Zealand, who registered a come-from-behind Test series victory. With Brook likely to become Ben Stokes’ successor in the Test arena, he will look to build his case by scripting a win over India in both Tests and ODIs. After the T20Is, both sides will play three one-dayers too.
