England’s 2025 India tour will kick off with the 1st T20I in Kolkata. Eden Gardens will host the opening match of the 5-match T20 series between India and England. For the first time since February 2022, Kolkata will host an international T20I. Moreover, it will be the first T20I clash between India and England at Eden Gardens since 2011. England last played a T20I here in 2016, which was the T20 World Cup final against the West Indies.
The T20 series will begin on January 22, and the weather in Kolkata on this day is predicted to be pleasant with sunshine. There is no chance of rain, with the minimum temperature expected to be 16°C and the maximum likely to reach 27°C. So, fans can look forward to a delay-free India vs England T20I match in Kolkata.
IND vs ENG 1st T20I Preview
India last played a T20 series against South Africa in November 2024. They won this 4-match series by 3-1 under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav. The T20 World Cup champions have been in exceptional form in the shortest format as they have won 9 out of the 10 T20Is they played since lifting the trophy in Barbados.
On the other hand, England’s most recent T20 series was also in November 2024, where they faced the West Indies. In the 5-match series held in the Caribbean, England secured a commanding 3-1 victory over the hosts. Given their recent form in T20Is and the home advantage, India may have the upper hand over England in the T20I at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
Eden Gardens Kolkata Pitch Report For IND vs ENG 1st T20I
The pitch at Eden Gardens has been a paradise for batters, regardless of the format. It offers good bounce, which helps batters play well-timed shots with ease. Teams batting first here need to aim for a minimum of 180, as chasing sides tend to be more successful. Pacers who rely on variations often find success on this surface, while spinners play a crucial role during the middle overs.
IND vs ENG 2025 1st T20I Dream11 Prediction
The playing XIs for both teams are not confirmed yet, but based on the probable lineups, Jos Buttler and Phil Salt could open for England. Eden Gardens is Phil Salt’s home ground in the IPL, and Jos Buttler is also familiar with the pitch. Both are in the wicket-keepers’ category in the Dream11 fantasy and picking both of them can be a good decision.
For India, Sanju Samson is likely to open. He is in exceptional form, having scored 3 centuries in his last 5 T20I matches. Fantasy users cannot afford to miss picking him. Axar Patel could play a key role for India. If he is in the playing XI, he will likely bowl during the middle overs and also has the ability to finish with the bat.
For England, Adil Rashid will be the primary spinner and could be a good pick if looking at the ground conditions. Varun Chakravarthy is also expected to play, and since it’s his home ground with KKR, he has enjoyed considerable success here. Mohammed Shami is expected to make his comeback in this match, and he would be a good choice for your Dream11 team. Here’s our Dream 11 team based on the probable line-ups.
Wicket-keepers: J Buttler (VC), P Salt, S Samson
Batters: S Yadav, R Singh
All-rounders: H Pandya (C), L Livingstone, A Patel
Bowlers: A Rashid, V Chakravarthy, M Shami
