India vs England 2024 series: Test match dates, schedule, squads and talkSPORT commentary as Stokes’ men look to continue fine form

England start a busy 2024 of cricket with a visit to old rivals India for a thrilling five-Test series.

The visitors were beaten 3-1 by the hosts on their last visit in 2021, including some crushing defeats on some questionable pitches.

However, this is a new era of English Test cricket, with Ben Stokes as captain and Brendon McCullum the head coach.

‘Bazball’ has inspired a new generation of cricket fans, with England always looking to win and be positive in everything they do.

But it’s been a while since England played Test cricket, with the final game of the 2023 Ashes series at the Oval their last clash in this format.

Since then, Stuart Broad has retired, and the white-ball team spectacularly imploded at the Cricket World Cup in India, so England fans will hope that a return to Test action can see Stokes and co win a series in India for the first time since 2012.

India vs England series: Matches

(All times are in GMT)

• 1st Test: January 25-29 – Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium – Hyderabad – 4am
• 2nd Test: February 2-6 – ACA-VDCA Stadium – Visakhapantam – 4am
• 3rd Test: February 15-19 – Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium – Rajkot – 4am
• 4th Test: February 23-27 – JSCA International Stadium – Ranchi – 4am
• 5th Test: March 7-11 – Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium – Dharamsala – 4am

3

India vs England series: talkSPORT coverage

talkSPORT has the exclusive commentary rights to the whole series.

Our expert team is still to be finalised but we will take you through the whole series ball-by-ball.

talkSPORT.com will also have all of the reaction from India across the series.

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

India vs England series: TV channel

Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket will broadcast the whole series.

Sky Go customers will be able to stream the action via the their mobile devices and tablets.

Alternatively, viewers can purchase a NOW TV membership to watch the action, with one-day passes and monthly subscriptions available.

India vs England: Squads

England have named a 16-man squad for the tour of India.

There are three uncapped players in Gus Atkinson, Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir.

Vice-captain Ollie Pope and Jack Leach are included after recovering from injuries suffered last summer.

Meanwhile, India haven’t announced their squad yet, but are likely include superstars Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, while lethal spinner Ravichandran Ashwin should return to the fold.

England: Ben Stokes (c), Rehan Ahmed, James Anderson, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley,
Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Mark Wood.

3

India vs England series: What has been said?

Former fast bowler and talkSPORT pundit Steve Harmison isn’t happy with England’s preparations for the tor of India.

Speaking on the Following On Podcast, he said: “If England go in three days before, they deserve to get beat 5-0. They really do.

“I’m an old man and that’s what they’re going to say ‘times have changed’. But preparation hasn’t changed. You cannot go into India over-prepared, you could be in India for six weeks and still not be prepared for that first Test and the emotion of that cauldron.

“You talk about [Kevin] Pietersen, [Andrew] Strauss, and [Alastair] Cook – this great side that won there in 2012 – what would they think if you’d have told them we were going in three days before? 

“They’d have laughed at you.

“I love the new approach with Ben Stokes, Brendan McCullum, and Rob Key and everything the ECB has done.

“But I’m sorry, you’d never go to an Ashes series three days before. You’d never go to Australia three days before the Gabba. Why go three days before Hyderabad? For me, it stinks.

“It’s not the new world, it’s player power. They are backing down to the players.”