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ENG vs IND Fantasy Team prediction is in focus for the 1st T20I of the India Tour of England 2026 at Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street, on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. The match is scheduled to begin at 4:30 PM local time (9:00 PM IST).
India just lost to Ireland. Both matches. The T20 World Cup 2026 champions came to Belfast and lost to Ireland by 34 runs in the first game. Then in the second they needed 2 off the last ball and could not get them. Ireland won the series 2-0.
It is the first time Ireland have beaten India in a T20I series. Ever.
That is the India team walking into Chester-le-Street tonight. Without Rohit. Without Kohli. Without Suryakumar. New captain Shreyas Iyer, two defeats in five days, and now England at home with Jofra Archer waiting.
England are in good form. Harry Brook captains. They beat Italy, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and New Zealand on the way to the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final before losing to India in that famous 499-run game. They know how to win at home in English conditions.
And there is one more story. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi did not play either Ireland T20I. He was left out both times. The 15-year-old with 776 IPL runs at a strike rate of 237 is still waiting for his senior debut. This England series is when most people expect it to happen. Chester-le-Street on July 1 might be his night.
ENG vs IND Match Details
Match: ENG vs IND, 1st T20I, India Tour of England 2026
Date: Wednesday July 1 2026
Time: 4:30 PM BST / 9:00 PM IST
Venue: Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street, County Durham
England Captain: Harry Brook
India Captain: Shreyas Iyer
Live TV India: Sony Sports TEN Network and DD Sports
Live Streaming India: JioHotstar
Venue Schedule
1st T20I: July 1, Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street
2nd T20I: July 4, Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
3rd T20I: July 7, Trent Bridge, Nottingham
4th T20I: July 9, County Ground, Bristol
5th T20I: July 11, Utilita Bowl, Southampton
Team Form Last 5
England last 5: L W W W W
Four wins from five. The only loss was to India in the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final — ENG 246 for 7 vs IND 253 for 7. Before that they beat New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the Super 8 and beat Italy in the group stage. At home in English conditions England are a very hard side to beat.
India last 5: L L W W W
Two losses from five. Both recent losses were to Ireland. Before that three wins: the T20 World Cup Final vs New Zealand, the semi-final vs England and a Super 8 win over West Indies. The Ireland defeats are concerning because this India batting lineup — without Rohit, Kohli and Suryakumar — has not clicked yet.
Head to Head ENG vs IND
India lead the head to head 7-3 from the last 10 T20I meetings.
IND won, 2nd Semi Final T20 WC 2026, IND 253 for 7 vs ENG 246 for 7 in 20 overs.
IND won, 5th T20I ENG vs IND 2025, IND 247 for 9 vs ENG 97 all out in 10.3 overs.
IND won, 4th T20I ENG vs IND 2025, IND 181 for 9 vs ENG 166 all out in 19.4 overs.
ENG won, 3rd T20I ENG vs IND 2025, ENG 171 for 9 vs IND 145 for 9 in 20 overs.
IND won, 2nd T20I ENG vs IND 2025, IND 166 for 8 in 19.2 overs vs ENG 165 for 9 in 20 overs.
India lead 7-3 but they have just lost two T20Is to Ireland and England are at home. Context matters more than career head to head right now.
Team Comparison Last 10 Matches
ENG in last 10:
Win percentage: 80 percent
Average Score: 172
Highest Score: 246
Lowest Score: 128
IND in last 10:
Win percentage: 70 percent
Average Score: 195
Highest Score: 256
Lowest Score: 111
India average 195 per innings which is 23 runs more than England’s 172. But India’s last two innings were 153 for 9 and 148 all out against Ireland — well below their average. The batting lineup without the seniors has not produced yet.
Riverside Ground Chester-le-Street Pitch Report
6 T20 matches at Riverside Ground Chester-le-Street.
Matches: 6
Average 1st innings: 136
Average 2nd innings: 125
Win batting first: 67 percent
Win bowling first: 17 percent
Highest total: 195 for 5 by England vs Australia
Lowest total: 118 for 7 by South Africa vs England
Highest chase: 143 for 3 by England vs New Zealand
Lowest defended: 176 for 9 by West Indies vs England
Pace vs Spin at Riverside in last 10 matches:
Pace: 57 wickets at 62 percent
Spin: 35 wickets at 38 percent
Average first innings of 136 is very low for a T20I. Chester-le-Street is not a high-scoring ground. Teams batting first win 67 percent here. The surface tends to be helpful for pace in the first innings and gets easier in the second innings.
The three most recent matches at this ground were T20 Blast games between county sides. Scores were 93, 128 and 138. This ground keeps totals low.
For India even a score of 155 batting first would be very competitive here. For fantasy this means pace bowlers matter more than batters in terms of wicket-taking potential.
Toss verdict: Bat first. 67 percent win rate for batting sides.
Par score: 155 or above batting first is competitive. 170 or above would put enormous pressure on England.
Weather Report Chester-le-Street July 1
Temperature: 15.5 degrees Celsius
Conditions: Mostly cloudy
Humidity: 73 percent
Rain chance: 15 percent
The 15 percent rain chance is worth watching. There is a real possibility of interruption at Chester-le-Street tonight. 15.5 degrees and 73 percent humidity means the ball will swing significantly in the first six overs. This is exactly the kind of conditions where Jofra Archer at pace becomes very dangerous. India’s top order has already struggled against pace in Ireland. Facing Archer in these conditions is a tougher assignment than anything they faced in Belfast.
England Squad — 17 Players
Confirmed England 17-player squad for India T20I series 2026:
Harry Brook (C), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, James Coles, Jordan Cox, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood.
Key inclusions: James Coles earns his maiden England call-up. Jordan Cox, Sonny Baker and Saqib Mahmood are back from the T20 World Cup squad.
Expected ENG XI: Phil Salt (WK), Jos Buttler, Harry Brook (C), Jordan Cox, Jacob Bethell, James Coles, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Saqib Mahmood, Rehan Ahmed.
India Squad — 16 Players
Confirmed India T20I squad for England 2026:
Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Varma (VC), Ravi Bishnoi, Abhishek Sharma, Suryansh Shedge, Prasidh Krishna, Sanju Samson (WK), Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Ishan Kishan (WK), Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube, Varun Chakravarthy, Prince Yadav, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Note: Nitish Kumar Reddy was ruled out with a left quadriceps injury and was replaced by Suryansh Shedge.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi did not play either Ireland T20I. He is yet to make his senior international debut. If he plays tonight he becomes the youngest Indian male cricketer to debut in international cricket, breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record. Check the official playing XI at toss time.
Expected IND XI: Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi or Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (WK), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy.
One notable story: The ECB confirmed Sooryavanshi will change in a separate dressing room from his India teammates during this tour. This is in line with ECB safeguarding policies for players under 16.
Players to Watch
Jofra Archer — England
Archer is the most dangerous bowler in this match. He bowls at 145 to 150 kmph and can swing the ball in cloudy humid conditions. At Chester-le-Street tonight with 73 percent humidity and mostly cloudy skies his first spell will be genuinely difficult for any batting lineup. India’s top order has already shown it can be troubled by quality pace. Archer is in a different category to anything they faced in Ireland.
Phil Salt — England
Salt opens the batting and attacks from ball one. On a ground that averages 136 in the first innings the team that scores fast in the powerplay builds a platform the lower order can extend. Salt’s job is to get England to 50 in six overs. On his day he does that with ease.
Harry Brook — England
The England captain bats at 3 and is one of the best T20 batters in the world. He scored 499 runs alongside India in that T20 World Cup semi-final epic. At Chester-le-Street where 165 is a very competitive total his innings in the middle overs is the most important batting contribution tonight.
Shreyas Iyer — India
The new captain walks into this series with two losses. He needs a personal performance. He bats at number 3 or 4 for India and his ability to anchor the innings under pressure is what this batting lineup needs after the collapses against Ireland. If he bats through to over 15 India post a competitive total.
Axar Patel — India
India’s best all-rounder on this tour. He bowls left-arm spin and bats in the middle order. On a ground where spin takes 38 percent of wickets his 4-over spell is important. He also bats at 6 or 7 and scores 20 to 30 runs consistently. Two contributions from one player is exactly what India need given their batting issues.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi — India (if selected)
He did not play either Ireland match. This England series is when the debut is most likely. If Shreyas Iyer names him in the XI tonight he becomes the youngest Indian international cricketer in history. The 15-year-old who hit 776 IPL runs at 237 facing Jofra Archer in cool cloudy Chester-le-Street conditions on debut. That is a story that writes itself. Check the toss announcement.
Match Prediction
England are favourites tonight. They are at home. Chester-le-Street suits swing bowling and Jofra Archer. India have lost their last two T20Is and their batting has collapsed twice in five days.
But India have won 7 of the last 10 T20Is between these two sides. Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Varun Chakravarthy against England’s middle order is a strong bowling combination. And the average first innings at Chester-le-Street is only 136 — India do not need to score 200 to win here.
Our prediction: England to win by 15 to 20 runs. Jofra Archer to take 2 or 3 early wickets. India’s batting collapses again on a surface that helps swing in the first innings.
Best Fantasy XI ENG vs IND 1st T20I 2026
All players selected from confirmed squad members who have played recently.
| Player | Team | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Phil Salt | England | Wicketkeeper |
| Jos Buttler | England | Batter |
| Harry Brook (C) | England | Batter |
| Abhishek Sharma | India | Batter |
| Shreyas Iyer | India | Batter |
| Jacob Bethell | England | All-Rounder |
| Axar Patel (VC) | India | All-Rounder |
| Washington Sundar | India | All-Rounder |
| Jofra Archer | England | Bowler |
| Arshdeep Singh | India | Bowler |
| Saqib Mahmood | England | Bowler |
Note on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: If he is confirmed in the India XI at toss time replace Abhishek Sharma with Sooryavanshi immediately. He bats at the top and his striking ability makes him the highest-ceiling batter in this match.
Captain: Harry Brook
England captain at home in England. He bats at 3 and scores quickly through the middle overs. At a ground where 165 is a big total his innings matters more than anyone else’s. The safest captain pick tonight.
Vice Captain: Axar Patel
He bowls left-arm spin on a surface where spin takes 38 percent of wickets. He bats at 6 or 7 and scores every time he comes in. Two scoring opportunities from one player. The safest all-round vice captain pick in this match.
Differential Pick: Saqib Mahmood
Lancashire’s pace bowler swings the ball in English conditions. At Chester-le-Street tonight with 73 percent humidity he will get movement in the powerplay. Most fantasy players will pick Archer and stop there for England’s pace attack. Mahmood at lower ownership with genuine wicket-taking ability is tonight’s best differential pick.
FANTASY
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Q: What time does ENG vs IND 1st T20I 2026 start in India?
A: The ENG vs IND 1st T20I starts at 9:00 PM IST on Wednesday July 1 2026. Local start time at Riverside Ground Chester-le-Street is 4:30 PM BST.
Q: Did India lose to Ireland before the England series?
A: Yes. India lost both T20Is to Ireland in Belfast. Lost the first by 34 runs and the second by 1 run off the last ball. Ireland won the series 2-0. It was Ireland’s first ever T20I series win against India.
Q: Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi play in ENG vs IND 1st T20I?
A: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi did not play in either Ireland T20I. His debut is expected during the England series. Check the official team announcement at toss time tonight. If he plays he becomes the youngest Indian male international cricketer in history, breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record.
Q: What is the confirmed England squad for India T20I series 2026?
A: Harry Brook (C), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, James Coles, Jordan Cox, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood. James Coles earns his maiden England call-up.
Q: What is the confirmed India squad for England T20I series 2026?
A: Shreyas Iyer (C), Tilak Varma (VC), Ravi Bishnoi, Abhishek Sharma, Suryansh Shedge, Prasidh Krishna, Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube, Varun Chakravarthy, Prince Yadav, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Suryansh Shedge replaced Nitish Kumar Reddy who is out with a left quadriceps injury.
Q: What is the pitch report for Riverside Ground Chester-le-Street?
A: Average first innings score is 136 in T20Is at this ground. Teams batting first win 67 percent of matches here. Pace takes 62 percent of wickets and spin 38 percent. Highest total is 195 for 5 by England vs Australia. Very low-scoring ground where 155 batting first is competitive.
Q: What is the head to head record between England and India in T20Is?
A: India lead 7-3 from the last 10 T20I meetings. Most recent meeting was the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final where India scored 253 for 7 and England scored 246 for 7. Both teams are very familiar with each other.
Q: Where are the five ENG vs IND T20Is being played in 2026?
A: 1st T20I: July 1, Riverside Ground Chester-le-Street. 2nd T20I: July 4, Old Trafford Manchester. 3rd T20I: July 7, Trent Bridge Nottingham. 4th T20I: July 9, County Ground Bristol. 5th T20I: July 11, Utilita Bowl Southampton.