In May 2022, former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum became the head coach of England’s Test team. By September 2023, McCullum also took over as the coach for England’s ODI and T20I formats. Starting today, England enters the McCullum era in white-ball cricket with a five-match T20I series against world champions India.
India and England will face off in the series opener at Eden Gardens at 6:30 PM.
Following England’s disappointing performances in the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) replaced coach Matthew Mott with McCullum, entrusting him with the ODI and T20I formats. McCullum is now tasked with leading England across all three formats until 2027.
The India series marks McCullum’s first test in white-ball cricket. After the T20I series, England will play a three-match ODI series against India, serving as preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy.
McCullum aims to revolutionize England’s white-ball cricket, just as he did in Tests. Ahead of the first T20I against India, McCullum stated, “I’m determined to play a truly exciting brand of cricket. We have the talent, so there’s no reason we can’t achieve that.”
The ICC Champions Trophy, featuring eight teams, is set to begin on February 19 in Pakistan and the UAE. Regarding the India series and the Champions Trophy, McCullum remarked, “The next few weeks will be challenging for us. After the India series, we’ll head into the Champions Trophy. This series will help us prepare for that. I’m optimistic about this squad and hope we can ready ourselves in the coming weeks.”
India will enter the series against England as favorites on home soil, but all eyes will be on India’s pacer Mohammed Shami. Returning to international cricket after over a year, Shami last played in the November 2023 ODI World Cup, where he was the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 24 dismissals.
On Shami’s return, India’s T20I vice-captain Axar Patel commented, “It’s fantastic news for us. I hope he continues his form from the World Cup.”
To date, India and England have played 24 T20I matches, with India winning 13 and England 11. India secured a 2-1 series victory in their last bilateral T20I series in England in 2022.
