India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir, visited the Kalighat temple in Kolkata on Tuesday to offer prayers in anticipation of the upcoming home T20I series against England. The series is set to commence on Wednesday at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, followed by an ODI series scheduled for next month.

The Indian team will engage in five T20I matches against the side led by Jos Buttler, before transitioning to a three-match ODI series. This series will be particularly significant as it serves as a vital preparation for the Champions Trophy, which is set to begin on February 19 in Pakistan and Dubai.

VIDEO | Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) offers prayers at Kalighat Temple, #Kolkata.

The first match of the T20 series between India and England will take place at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, tomorrow. Starting with this T20I, the two teams will compete in a series of matches… pic.twitter.com/frPanegCyJ

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 21, 2025.

All eyes on Mohammed Shami as India begin Champions Trophy preparations

Only three players selected for the five-match T20I series against England will be included in the Champions Trophy squad: Mohammed Shami, all-rounder Hardik Pandya, and fast bowler Arshdeep Singh. The primary attention during the T20I series will be on Shami, who is making his return to international cricket after the 2023 ODI World Cup, having been sidelined due to an ankle injury that necessitated surgery. His recovery was complicated by swelling in his left knee during a recent domestic comeback.

The 34-year-old made his competitive return in the Ranji Trophy for Bengal, leading them to their first victory of the season with a remarkable seven-wicket haul.

He subsequently delivered strong performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he took 11 wickets, and in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he claimed five wickets.

Throughout his career since debuting in 2014, the seasoned pacer has participated in only 23 T20I matches, with his last appearance in this format occurring during the 2022 T20 World Cup semifinal. He has secured 24 wickets at an average of 29.62.

Following Wednesday's match in Kolkata, the series will proceed to Chennai for the second T20I on January 25, with subsequent matches scheduled in Rajkot (January 28), Pune (January 31), and Mumbai (February 2). The ODI series will commence in Nagpur on February 6, followed by matches in Cuttack (February 9) and Ahmedabad (February 12).

Read Also: Buttler on BCCI's Curbs: Family Travel Guidelines Don't Impact Us

"Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!"