India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir, visited the renowned Kalighat Kali Temple in Kolkata to seek blessings before the team's first T20I match against England. The series opener is set to take place at Eden Gardens, marking India’s first series of the year following their disappointing loss to Australia in the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
Gambhir, a former captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), holds a deep connection with Kolkata. He led KKR to two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014, and his visit to the temple highlights his respect for the city and its traditions. On the eve of the match, Gambhir was seen offering prayers at the temple, which is considered one of the holiest Shakti Peethas in India. According to mythology, Kalighat is where the toes of Goddess Sati's right foot fell during Lord Shiva’s Rudra Tandava.
The Indian squad, led by Suryakumar Yadav, will gain strength from the return of Mohammed Shami. The veteran pacer, who last played in the ODI World Cup final against Australia in November 2023, has recovered from a heel injury and is set to make a comeback ahead of the Champions Trophy next month.
England, meanwhile, will also see the return of pacer Mark Wood, who has been out of action since August. He joins Jofra Archer and Jamie Overton in a formidable pace lineup, as the visitors gear up for the series opener.
India and England have faced off in T20Is 24 times, with India holding a narrow lead with 13 wins to England’s 11. Since 2021, India has dominated with five victories in their last seven T20I encounters, including a memorable win in the semifinals of the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
The five-match T20I series will begin in Kolkata, followed by matches in Chennai, Rajkot, Pune, and Mumbai. The final game is scheduled for February 2 at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. After the T20Is, the teams will clash in a three-match ODI series starting February 6 in Nagpur, providing a glimpse of India’s preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
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