\n<\/p>\n
Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, pace bowlers Brydon Carse and Saqib Mahmood, as well as leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed are the players to miss out on a place in McCullum’s first XI.<\/p>\n
Duckett’s promotion means England return to the opening partnership used in the ODI series against Australia in September.<\/p>\n
Duckett missed the white-ball tour to West Indies in November because of his Test commitments and Salt opened with Surrey batter Will Jacks, who was left out of the squad to tour India. <\/p>\n
Salt will continue to keep wicket against India with captain Jos Buttler leading from the field.<\/p>\n
Gus Atkinson has been selected for his first white-ball matches since 2023 on the back of a stellar debut year in Test cricket where he took 52 wickets in 11 matches in 2024.<\/p>\n
He has previously played three T20s and nine ODIs.<\/p>\n
Spin-bowling all-rounder Jacob Bethell also retains his place after a breakthrough winter.<\/p>\n
He impressed in the under-strength England side on his debut tour of West Indies and then scored fifties in each of his first three Tests in New Zealand before Christmas.<\/p>\n
“All credit to him [Bethell],” Buttler said. “He has done incredibly well coming into international cricket.<\/p>\n
“He has a good head on his shoulders and has the game for it. <\/p>\n
“It was fantastic to watch him in New Zealand. He has been playing really well and this is a new challenge for him and one I know he is excited for.”<\/p>\n
McCullum’s arrival comes as England begin preparations for the Champions Trophy in Pakistan next month. The next T20 World Cup is also in India and Sri Lanka next year.<\/p>\n
“It is not a new set up because Baz [McCullum] has been around for a while and there are a lot of players in this squad that have been with him the Test set up,” added Buttler.<\/p>\n
“I am looking forward to building that relationship. It is going to be a great series against a really top side in their own conditions.”<\/p>\n
India are the current T20 world champions but have named a youthful squad for the T20 series<\/a>. Experienced fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is injured and will miss the series.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n