After suffering a shocking T20I series defeat to Ireland in Belfast, the Indian men’s cricket team will now take on England in a five-match T20I series. The opening match of the bilateral series is scheduled
to be played at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street on Wednesday (July 1). India are expected to make a few changes to their playing XI for the series opener.
After warming the bench during both T20Is against Ireland, 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is likely to make his India debut on Wednesday. The teenage sensation is expected to replace Sanju Samson as India’s opening batter.
Samson, who won the Player of the Tournament award at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, opened the innings in both T20Is against Ireland but endured a disappointing series. He scored just five runs off four balls in the opening match at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast before being dismissed for a golden duck in the second T20I on Sunday (June 28) at the same venue.
While Samson appears set to lose his place as an opener, it remains to be seen whether he retains his spot in the XI as the wicketkeeper-batter. Samson kept wickets in the first T20I against Ireland, but Ishan Kishan took over the gloves in the second match. Kishan also struggled with the bat, scoring just one run in the first T20I before making 12 off 11 balls in the second.
If the Indian team management decides against fielding three left-handed batters in the top three, Kishan could be the one to make way for Vaibhav instead of Samson.
World No. 1 T20I batter Abhishek Sharma scored a blistering 49 off just 20 balls in the first T20I against Ireland, and that knock is expected to secure his place in the playing XI for at least the opening match against England.
While there are unlikely to be any changes to India’s pace attack, it will be interesting to see whether Suryansh Shedge retains his place after making his international debut in the second T20I against Ireland. The Mumbai all-rounder failed to make an impact with either bat or ball.
If Shedge is left out, Washington Sundar could return to the playing XI after having made way for the youngster in the second T20I.
The Indian team management will also be hoping for an improved performance from captain Shreyas Iyer in the England series, while all-rounder Axar Patel will be expected to play a key role with both bat and ball.
No Indian player has ever lost his first three T20Is as captain, and Iyer will be keen to avoid creating that unwanted record when India take the field on Wednesday.
India’s likely playing XI for 1st T20I against England: Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan (WK), Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav
