India vs England Match Prediction - Who will win today’s 1st T20I match between IND vs ENG?

India (IND) will take on England (ENG) in the first T20I of the five-match series at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday, January 22. This will be the first time both teams will be in action against each other after the Men in Blue edged out England in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2024. India is the number one ranked team in the shortest format of the game, whereas the Jos Buttler-led side finds itself in the third position.

The hosts have made slight changes to their squad which toured South Africa in November 2024. The biggest talking point is the return of ace pacer Mohammed Shami after a 14-month gap. Shami will lead the bowling arsenal alongside Arshdeep Singh. Meanwhile, Axar Patel has been named as the vice-captain instead of all-rounder Hardik Pandya. For England, head coach Brendon McCullum confirmed that Buttler will focus on captaincy and will relinquish the wicketkeeping duties. India has played seven T20Is at this iconic venue, including six wins and one loss which came against the English team back in 2011.

IND vs ENG Match Details

Pitch Report

The Eden Gardens is known for providing pitches that are batting-friendly. Dew will play a big role in the match. A total of 12 T20Is have taken place so far at the Eden Gardens. The team batting first has won five times, while the chasing teams have won seven. As a result, bowling first could prove to be a crucial determinant for the team's chances in the match.

Click Here: IND vs ENG Schedule 2025 | Fixtures, Time Table, Timings & Venues

Head-To-Head Records

Probable Predicted 11 for IND vs ENG

India:

Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Shami, Varun Chakravarthy

England:

Phil Salt (WK), Ben Duckett, Jos Buttler (C), Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

Click Here: IND vs ENG 2025 | Squads and Full Players List of all Team

Probable Top Performers from IND vs ENG

Probable Best Batter: Suryakumar Yadav

Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav could be the best batter in the first T20I against the Three Lions. Yadav wasn't at his best in the South African tour, scoring just 26 runs in three innings. However, the right-hand batter with his vast experience knows how to regain his form. Surya also has a good record playing in Kolkata, with 107 runs in four innings. 

Click Here: IND vs ENG 2025: Who are top three most valuable players?

Probable Best Bowler: Varun Chakravarthy

India's mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy will be the best bowler in the upcoming game. The spinner had a memorable series against South Africa, bagging 12 wickets across four innings, and was the highest-wicket taker of the series. The 33-year-old is in red-hot form and was at his very best in the recent domestic tournaments. The Bidar-born will be well-versed with the conditions, citing him being part of Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.

Click Here: ICC Men's T20I Bowling Rankings

Today's Match Prediction: Team bowling first to win the match

Scenario 1

India win the toss and opt to bowl first

PP Score: 45-55

ENG: 155-165

India win the match

Scenario 2

England win the toss and opt to bowl first

PP Score: 55-65

IND: 165-175

England win the match

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Disclaimer: The prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned, and make your own decision.