England’s Cricket Return: Squad Announcements and Upcoming India Tour

In a move that has stirred excitement among cricket fans, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced the squads for England’s upcoming tour of India and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. This announcement comes as part of their preparations leading up to a challenging season ahead, with an exciting series of fixtures set for January and February 2025.

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Joe Root’s Return

One of the most notable inclusions in the England ODI squad is Joe Root, who returns after a year focused mainly on Test cricket. The 34-year-old batsman boasts impressive statistics in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and has been a cornerstone of England’s batting lineup in the past. His experience and skill will be invaluable as England takes on a formidable Indian side.

Despite his impressive credentials, the ODI setup is marked by the absence of Test captain Ben Stokes. Stokes’ ongoing rehabilitation from a hamstring injury, sustained during the third Test against New Zealand, excluded him from both the ODI and T20I squads. His absence is a significant blow, as he has been a key player in England’s recent success in international cricket.

Notable Absentees

In addition to Stokes, England’s lineup will also miss Sam Curran, the Player of the Tournament at the 2022 T20 World Cup. Fast bowlers Reece Topley and Matthew Potts have also been left out of both white-ball squads. However, England welcomes back Mark Wood, whose pace and experience are crucial for both formats, especially in subcontinental conditions.

England’s Squads

Here’s a breakdown of the announced squads for the India tour:

ODI Squad

Captain: Jos Buttler (Lancashire)
Jofra Archer (Sussex)
Gus Atkinson (Surrey)
Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire)
Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
Brydon Carse (Durham)
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
Jamie Overton (Surrey)
Jamie Smith (Surrey)
Liam Livingstone (Lancashire)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Joe Root (Yorkshire)
Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire)
Phil Salt (Lancashire)
Mark Wood (Durham)

T20I Squad

Captain: Jos Buttler (Lancashire)
Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire)
Jofra Archer (Sussex)
Gus Atkinson (Surrey)
Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire)
Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
Brydon Carse (Durham)
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
Jamie Overton (Surrey)
Jamie Smith (Surrey)
Liam Livingstone (Lancashire)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire)
Phil Salt (Lancashire)
Mark Wood (Durham)

Match Schedule

The England team will embark on a comprehensive tour, which includes five T20 International matches followed by three One-Day Internationals. The scheduled matches are as follows:

T20I Fixtures

1st T20I: India vs. England – Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at Eden Gardens, Kolkata
2nd T20I: India vs. England – Saturday, January 25, 2025, at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
3rd T20I: India vs. England – Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot
4th T20I: India vs. England – Friday, January 31, 2025, at MCA Stadium, Pune
5th T20I: India vs. England – Sunday, February 2, 2025, at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

ODI Fixtures

1st ODI: India vs. England – Thursday, February 6, 2025, at VCA Stadium, Nagpur
2nd ODI: India vs. England – Sunday, February 9, 2025, at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack
3rd ODI: India vs. England – Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

Conclusion

With the squads now announced, cricket fans are abuzz with anticipation for what promises to be an electrifying series between India and England. As evidence of cricket’s growing global appeal, this tour not only serves as an important battleground for both teams ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy but also highlights the importance of developing a robust and versatile squad capable of performing under pressure.

Will Joe Root’s return reinvigorate England’s white-ball setup? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: this tour will be one for the history books.