Fri Jan 24 12:08:34 IST 2025: ## India Favourites as England Face Spin Challenge in Chennai T20I
**Chennai, India** – India and England clash in the second T20I of their five-match series on January 25th at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. This match marks India’s return to the venue for a T20I after a six-year gap, their previous matches there resulting in a one-run loss to New Zealand in 2012 and a six-wicket victory over the West Indies in 2018. Only Washington Sundar remains from the 2018 squad.
This time, Suryakumar Yadav leads the Indian team, facing an England side playing their first T20I at Chepauk. The pitch, known for its spin-friendly nature, poses a significant challenge for the English batsmen, who struggled against Indian spinners in the first match in Kolkata, which India won by 7 wickets.
India holds a strong head-to-head record against England in T20Is, winning 14 out of 25 matches. The Indian squad boasts a blend of experience and youth, with Suryakumar Yadav captaining a team including Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya, and Axar Patel. England’s squad, led by Jos Buttler, will need to adapt quickly to the challenging conditions. The spin-friendly nature of the Chennai pitch is expected to heavily favor the Indian team.
First Piper 