India’s Probable XI for 2nd T20I vs England: Will Shami Play? SKY to Drop a Spinner?
India will face England in the second T20I on January 25 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. India won the opener by 7 wickets. With a spin-friendly pitch awaiting the teams, there’s talk of changes to India’s lineup. This includes Mohammad Shami’s fitness and a possible change in the bowlers.
The Curious Case of Shami’s Exclusion
India’s first T20I win raised eyebrows. Star pacer Mohammad Shami was excluded from the playing XI. According to reports, Shami’s omission might be due to lingering fitness concerns. In 2024, Shami recovered from a heel injury and knee swelling. But, he wore knee braces in practice. This raised doubts about his match readiness.
Also, there were rumors of a hamstring strain in training. That might have forced management to rest the ace pacer. With the Champions Trophy 2025 coming up, team management may limit Shami’s work. So, he is unlikely to play in the 2nd T20I.
Will Washington Sundar Replace Ravi Bishnoi?
India’s bowlers in the first T20I were Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, and Ravi Bishnoi. Arshdeep impressed with early breakthroughs. He became India’s top T20I wicket-taker. Varun Chakravarthy took 3 wickets for 23 runs, securing his place in the XI.
Ravi Bishnoi, however, had an off day, going wicketless and proving to be the most expensive bowler. Chennai’s track favors spin. So, consider Washington Sundar to replace Bishnoi. Sundar knows the Chepauk pitch. His better stats at the venue make him a good option for India in the second match.
Samson, Abhishek, and Tilak Lead the Batting Line-Up
India’s batting order is expected to stay the same. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma will open the innings. Abhishek was the star of the first match. He smashed the second-fastest T20I half-century for India, off just 20 balls. His explosive 79 off 34 balls, alongside Tilak Varma’s composed knock at No.3, helped India cruise to an easy win.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav, out for a three-ball duck in the first T20I, will be eager to bounce back at Chepauk. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya shone with both bat and ball. He will look to continue his all-round performance. Vice-captain Axar Patel took two key wickets in the first game. He will also play a key role in the upcoming clash.
India’s Probable Playing XI vs England for 2nd T20I
- Openers: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma
- Middle Order: Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya
- All-Rounders: Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel
- Bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi/Washington Sundar
