By AFP
World champions India look to experiment and rebuild for the 2026 T20 World Cup as they host England in a five-match series.
England’s captain and wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, front, takes off the bails.
India and England last faced-off in the semifinal of the ICC T20 World up 2024, when India won by 68 runs and went on to lift the trophy [File: Ramon Espinosa/AP Photo]
World champions India host England in a five-match T20 series as they begin preparations for the T20 World Cup 2026 with one eye on the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
India’s winning streak in the shortest format of the game has seen them wrap up every bilateral T20 series since August 2023 and captain Suryakumar Yadav will look to build on his new-look team’s success before their co-hosted T20 World Cup in February 2026.
The hosts have hinted at taking a “flexible” approach in the upcoming series, with newly appointed vice-captain Axar Patel saying his team will be open to the idea of experimenting with a floating batting line-up.
“The openers are fixed, but everyone from numbers three to seven have been told that they can come into bat anytime, in any situation,” Patel said in his pre-series comments on Monday.
“Our middle order will come to bat depending on the match situation, what kind of bowlers are bowling at the time, which match-up works well. We have spoken about how we can all be floaters.”
“Momentum is a big thing because if you start well, you can carry it. We finished 2024 well so we want to carry the momentum into this series too.
“But we’ve discussed that the past is past; however, we want to move ahead with the positives we gained from there. We have taken forward the points that brought us success.”
Meanwhile, England’s form in the T20 format has taken a dip since their appearance in the semifinal of the last World Cup in June.
Jos Buttler’s side will hope the presence of young all-rounder Jacob Bethell, as well as wicketkeeper Jamie Smith will provide an extra punch to their batting line-up.
