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England is all set to take on India in a white-ball series, starting from Wednesday, January 22. While the two sides will first lock horns in a five-match T20I series, followed by three-match ODI series before travelling for the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025. Ahead of the series opener in Kolkata, England’s new white-ball head coach confirmed skipper Jos Buttler’s role.
Speaking at the pre-match presser in Kolkata, Brendon McCullum, who will kickstart as England white-ball coach, confirmed that Jos Buttler will play as a full-time batter, whereas Phil Salt will take by the wicketkeeping gloves. This comes seeing the impact England’s white-ball skipper could have on the bowlers by being in the field rather than from behind the wickets.
Phil Salt to keep wickets against India in T20I series; confirms coach Brendon McCullum
Addressing the pre-match press conference at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, McCullum reiterated on the importance Jos Buttler could have by being around the field, rather than serving in the role from behind the wickets. "It's really a really positive thing for us, because it gives Jos the opportunity to have the last say with the bowler, and to have that relationship built at that last second, rather than from 22 yards away. We've got great keeping options within the side as well,” McCullum said.
"Obviously, we've known for a couple of months that this was going to unfold, so there's been plenty of time to chat to Jos over the last couple of months. With Jos, we actually start from a slightly stronger base. Jos and I have been friends for a long time, we've often shared some of the philosophies of game, and that friendship gives us really good base to be able to be able to get things going pretty quickly with this team," he further added.
It is to be noted that Buttler relinquished wicketkeeping gloves in the last series against West Indies in November 2024. Speaking of the upcoming series, while the first T20I will be played on Wednesday, January 22 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the series will then move on to Chennai for the second T20I, followed by a match each in Rajkot (January 28), Pune (January 31) and Mumbai (February 2).
England’s T20I squad for India series
Jos Buttler (Lancashire) (Captain), 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)
