Kris Srikkanth picks India’s playing 11 for ENG vs IND 2026 1st T20I

Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth has picked India’s playing XI for the first T20I against England. India suffered a 0-2 series loss against Ireland and they would aim to bounce back against England. Srikkanth backed Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube as the team’s top six batters.

With Varun Chakravarthy set to return from injury, Srikkanth picked the mystery spinner and Axar Patel as the two spinners in the team. The 1983 World Cup-winning captain backed Harshit Rana, Prince Yadav and Arshdeep Singh as the three fast bowlers.

Kris Srikkanth’s India playing XI for the 1st T20I against England: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Prince Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy.

Srikkanth said Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should have 100% played the second T20I against Ireland. Sooryavanshi recently scored 776 runs in 16 matches of IPL 2026 at a blistering strike rate of 237.30 for Rajasthan Royals and played a key role in taking his team to the playoffs.

“He (Suryavanshi) should have 100% played the second T20I against Ireland. Abhishek Sharma should have been rested as he got a brilliant 50 in the first match. Instead of him, Suryavanshi should have played. Abhishek Sharma is a certainty anyway so Vaibhav Suryavanshi could have got a chance to play in the second Ireland match,” said Srikkanth on his YouTube Channel.

However, Srikkanth urged the team management not to alter the opening pair in the first half of the England series.

“For all you know, he might have won them the game because he has performed well in difficult conditions in the IPL. But now that he hasn’t played against Ireland, I won’t play him in the first two T20Is against England,” he stated.

The first T20I between India and England will be played on Wednesday.