England Playing 11 vs India - 1st T20I, England tour of India 2025

England will be eyeing a winning start to their tour of India when they lock horns against the hosts in the first T20I of the five-match series. The series opener is scheduled to be played on Wednesday (January 22) at the Eden Gardens.

England's last T20I assignment was the five-match series in West Indies. The two-time T20 World Cup winners had won that series 3-1 and will be keen to win the series against India as well. While India will start the series as firm favorites, England do have enough firepower to stun their fancied hosts.

With the visitors eyeing a winning start to the series, we are taking a look at the England Playing 11 for the first IND vs ENG T20I. The visitors have already announced their playing 11 for the series opener.

England Playing 11 vs India - England tour of India 2025:

Openers: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett

England will have a new opening combination for the first T20I against India. Phil Salt and Ben Duckett will be the openers in the England Playing 11 for the series-opener.

While Will Jacks and Salt opened the innings against West Indies a couple of months ago, Duckett will be replacing the former in the upcoming series.

Duckett recently played in the Big Bash League in Australia and hit three half-centuries. The southpaw will be eyeing a good show against India as well.

Salt, on the other hand, has ample experience of playing in India. He had a memorable IPL season with champions Kolkata Knight Riders last year and will be keen to give England a good start.

Middle-order batsmen and allrounders: Jos Buttler, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton

England head coach Brendon McCullum has already confirmed that Jos Buttler will continue to bat at number four. One of the best T20 batsmen in the world, Buttler will look to lead his side from the front in the challenging series.

Buttler has ample experience of Indian conditions thanks to his participation in IPL and he will be looking to make the most of it.

Harry Brook is expected to be the number four batsman in the England Playing 11. The right-handed batsman, who was recently named as the vice-captain of the team, last played for England during the three-match Test series in New Zealand. In that series, Brook had scored two centuries and a fifty.

Jaco Bethell will be another batting option in the England Playing 11. The left-handed batsman impressed with the bat against West Indies in November, scoring 127 runs in 4 games including two fifties. He will be looking to deliver against India as well.

The other options in the England middle-order are all-rounders Liam Livingstone and Jamie Overton. Both the players have ample T20 experience and will be looking to make an impact in the upcoming match.

Bowlers: Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson

Three frontline pacers and a spinner will form the bowling lineup of the England Playing 11. Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, and Gus Atkinson will be the three fast bowlers while Adil Rashid will be the spin spearhead. Livingstone and Overton are also other bowling options for tourists.