'Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma will be openers until...': Sanjay Manjrekar names India XI for 1st England T20I

Former Indian batter and cricket analyst Sanjay Manjrekar has unveiled his ideal playing XI for India’s opening T20I of the upcoming five-match T20I series against England. This much-awaited T20I clash will be held at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday, January 22.

Sanjay Manjrekar has boldly said that it is a straightforward selection that won't cause much trouble for the Indian cricket team management or selectors. Well, the cricket expert has picked Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma as his openers with Tilak Varma slotting at No. 3.

Sanjay Manjrekar reveals his India XI for the first T20I game against England

India National Cricket Team captain Suryakumar Yadav is slotted at No. 4, followed by Hardik Pandya and Rinku Singh to strengthen the middle order by Manjrekar for the five-match T20I series opener against England at Eden Gardens. He has then selected three all-rounders for the Kolkata T20I.

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Sanjay Manjrekar said on ESPNCricinfo: “I think it looks like the playing XI that’s not giving too much headache to the team management and the selectors. So, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma will be your opener until Yashasvi Jaiswal gets a way back into the line-up.”

Manjrekar said that there will be a toss-up between Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar and the decision may depend on the pitch conditions and opposition lineup. But the cricket pundit went with Nitish Kumar Reddy in his playing XI against England.

Sanjay Manjrekar selects Nitish Kumar Reddy and Varun Chakravarthy in his playing XI

The cricket expert further explained, “Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar might just depend on the kind of pitch that you get. And, plus, left-handers, you know, an off-spinner comes in handy when there are a lot of left-handers. But, from what I see, they might have two left-handers in the top six or seven. So, maybe Nitish Kumar Reddy might just get that nod over Sundar.”

India’s vice-captain and spin all-rounder Axar Patel has found a place at the No. 8 in Manjrekar’s playing for the first T20I match against England. The former Indian batter also labeled the mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy as the game-changer, as he went with only one spin specialist.

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The comeback man Mohammed Shami will lead Manjrekar’s pace attack in the first T20I match against England while he will have the support of young gun Arshdeep Singh at Eden Gardens.

Manjrekar signed off by saying, “I'd like to have Varun Chakravarthy on this side. I just think, you know, he's a game-changer in T20 cricket. Arshdeep Singh and Mohammad Shami. So, it looks a pretty good side, this.”

Sanjay Manjrekar’s India XI for the first T20I against England:

Sanju Samson (WK), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel (VC), Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami.

On the other hand, England have already named their playing XI for the first T20I match against India. Mark Wood and Jofra Archer return to England's T20I line-up while Ben Duckett is also making a T20I comeback in Kolkata.