England are on tour again, and the start of 2025 finds them in India for a white ball series that takes in five T20 games and three ODI’s. It kicks off on Wednesday in Kolkata at Eden Gardens. It’s the first time the two sides are facing each other in white ball cricket since 2022 when India won a three game T20I series 2-1.
There is no major difference between batting first or second at Eden Gardens – six of the 11 T20I played here have been won by the chasing side and five by the setting side.
What is interesting is that India has won the toss in five of their seven games at Eden Gardens. They have won 80% of the games where they won the toss and have never been beaten when losing it.
The highest score recorded on the ground in a T20I is 201 for five. This was made by Pakistan in a game against Bangladesh in 2016. the highest score made that didn’t result in a win was 178/3 by the West Indies against India in 2022
India v England | First T20I | Wednesday 22 January 2025 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 3:30pm
India
India has an excellent record in T20I games in Kolkata. They have played a total of seven games at Eden Gardens and lost just one – the first one they played there back in 2011. Since then, they have won six games on the trot.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are India’s two leading run scorers at the venue. Neither will be playing in the series after they both retired from T20I after the World Cup in the Caribbean. It will be interesting to see how the next generation steps forward.
That said, the next generation is already doing quite well thank you! Tilak Varma is ranked third by the ICC, Suryakumar Yadav is fourth and Yashasvi Jaiswal is eight. Varma and Yadav are set to play, while currently, Jaiswal is not in the squad.
Look out for the return of Mohammed Shami who is back for India for the first time since the 2023 ODI World Cup final. The influential quick was sidelined for 2024 with a knee injury but having spent time playing for Bengal and the Kolkata Knight Riders he knows Eden Gardens well and could play a big role.
Ravi Bishnoi is India’s top-ranked bowler at the moment. He has played just 37 T20I but with an average of 18.75 and on a wicket that will suit his bowling he looks set to be amongst the wickets for India.
England
India has an excellent record at Eden Gardens, but the only team to beat them there is England – who won by six wickets back in 2011.
England has played two previous games at Eden Gardens, the first was the win against India in 2011, and the second was a 2016 loss at the hands of a Marlon Samuels-inspired West Indies.
Look out for two of England’s key fast-bowling weapons, Mark Wood and Jofra Archer, who are both returning after injury.
The exciting Ben Duckett, who opens the batting for England in Tests, is set to open in Kolkata alongside Phil Salt. It will be his first time at the top of the T20 order in six years.
England’s batting is exciting with two players in the ICC’s top ten. The list which is currently topped by Australia’s Travis Head has Salt at number two and Jos Buttler fifth.
It will be intriguing to see what influence Test coach Brendon McCullum brings to the mix as he takes charge of the white-ball side for the first time. McCullum is credited with leading a revival in England’s Test fortunes and turning them into a much more exciting and competitive unit. India is currently ranked as the top T20I side in the world and England is third – so there is some room for him to improve.
Leg spinner Adil Rashid is the second-ranked T20I bowler in the world and on a wicket that favours spinners, he will have a big role to play for the tourists.
Verdict: India
It will be close. Expect England to start with plenty of verve and energy with new coach Brendon McCullum on board, but Eden Gardens is something of a fortress for India and they should have too much for the tourists.
