Sun Jan 12 19:38:15 UTC 2025: ## India Announces T20 Squad for England Series; Shami’s Return a Key Highlight

**New Delhi, [Date]** – The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today announced the Indian squad for the upcoming five-match T20 series against England. The selection committee made several notable changes, most significantly the return of Mohammed Shami to the T20 format after a considerable absence. While Shami’s inclusion in the ODI squad was anticipated, his selection for the T20s indicates a clear strategic plan by the BCCI for the coming months, potentially hinting at his role in the Champions Trophy 2025.

Five players from the squad that last played a T20 series against South Africa in November 2024 have been dropped: Ramandeep Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Avesh Khan, Vijay Kumar Vyshak, and Yash Dayal. Their omission is attributed to performance, future planning, the return of senior players, and the strong performances of other contenders.

Five new players have been brought in: Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Washington Sundar, and Dhruv Jurel. Shami’s inclusion suggests the BCCI aims to provide him ample match practice before the Champions Trophy.

Several key players have been rested, considering their workload and upcoming commitments in the ODI series and the Champions Trophy. This includes Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, none of whom were part of the South Africa T20 series in November.

**The 15-member squad is:** Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel (Vice-Captain), Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, and Dhruv Jurel (Wicketkeeper). The BCCI is yet to announce the squad for the Champions Trophy 2025, with a decision expected within a week.

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