England have unveiled their 15-man squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against India, scheduled to begin on January 22, 2026. The most notable selection is Jacob Bethell, who is expected to open the batting for the visitors. The 21-year-old left-hander has impressed in domestic cricket and has been rewarded with a place in the senior side.
Bethell's Promotion to Opener
Jacob Bethell, primarily a middle-order batter for Warwickshire, has been tasked with filling the opening slot. England's head coach Matthew Mott confirmed that Bethell will be given the opportunity to open alongside Phil Salt. "We see Jacob as a dynamic player who can take on the new ball. His performances in the Vitality Blast have been outstanding," Mott said. Bethell scored 456 runs in the 2025 Blast at a strike rate of 148.5.
Full Squad and Key Inclusions
The squad sees the return of several senior players, including Jos Buttler (captain), who missed the previous series due to injury. Jofra Archer is also included after recovering from elbow surgery. The pace attack features Mark Wood and Reece Topley, while Adil Rashid remains the lead spinner. Notable omissions include Ben Stokes, who is being rested, and Moeen Ali, who has been dropped.
England squad: Jos Buttler (c), Phil Salt, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Reece Topley, Adil Rashid, Rehan Ahmed, Tom Banton, Saqib Mahmood, John Turner.
Series Schedule and Venues
The five T20Is will be played across five cities: Chennai (Jan 22), Kolkata (Jan 25), Pune (Jan 28), Ahmedabad (Jan 31), and Mumbai (Feb 2). All matches are day-night fixtures starting at 7:00 PM IST. The series is part of both teams' preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Strategic Shift for England
England's decision to promote Bethell signals a strategic shift. Mott explained: "We want to maximize our batting depth. Jacob gives us an aggressive left-hand option at the top, which balances our right-hand heavy middle order." Bethell's inclusion also allows Salt to continue his aggressive role without the pressure of anchoring the innings.
India, meanwhile, have not yet announced their squad. The hosts are expected to rest key players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for the T20I series, given the proximity to the World Cup. The series promises to be a high-octane contest between two of the world's best T20 sides.
