Jofra Archer comeback, Tongue first cap as India look to pile on runs at Old Trafford

This is for the 2nd T20I between England and India at Old Trafford, Manchester on July 4, 2026. The first T20I was washed out. With their IPL-tuned hitting games, they could well be in for a lot more fun at Old Trafford, where England breached 300 against South Africa last year. Although India stuttered in the opening match, falling to 6 for 2 at the end of the second over, Abhishek Sharma continued his fine record against England (347 runs at a strike rate of 219.62) with his third 50-plus score in seven innings, helping to patch up the damage alongside Iyer, whose half-century was his first in T20Is since December 2023. And despite the continuing woes of Sanju Samson - scores of 5, 0 and 1 in his last three innings - India's management remains coy as to when and where they might finally unleash 15-year-old phenom Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on international cricket. Jofra Archer returns: The pace spearhead is back after being rested for the opener. He comes in for Saqib Mahmood despite Mahmood taking 3/33 in Durham. Archer was Player of the Series in England’s recent Tests vs New Zealand with 11 wickets, and was Rajasthan Royals’ top wicket-taker in IPL 2026 with 25 wickets. Josh Tongue to debut: Fast bowler Josh Tongue will make his T20I debut, replacing Luke Wood. He has 12 Tests and 57 wickets, but is yet to play ODI/T20I for England. In T20s he has 29 wickets at 19.03. Old Trafford is Phil Salt's home ground but such is the nature of the schedule these days, and how it dovetails with international and franchise commitments, he hasn't played there since September 2025. On that occasion, his unbeaten 141 off 60 balls was the centrepiece of England's record-breaking 304 for 2 against South Africa. After a below-par T20 World Cup and an IPL affected by injury, he will be looking to channel that form once again. England Probable XI: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Harry Brook (c), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Josh Tongue. Old Trafford's pitches have traditionally offered something for spinners and seamers, with the bounce benefiting both - but they can be good to bat on, too, as demonstrated by England putting up 304 for 2 last year (the first time 300 had been scored in a match between Full Members). The surface is a fresh one, despite the Women's T20 World Cup recently being in town, with a little grass left on. India will look to score big at Old Trafford, the quickest-scoring ground in the series. The average first-innings score in men’s T20Is here since 2025 is 178, and England hit 304/2 here last year. India are likely to stick with Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Shreyas Iyer (c) at the top, with talk of giving 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi a debut. They may also swap Ravi Bishnoi for an extra seamer due to flat conditions. Axar Patel is one appearance from equaling MS Dhoni on 98 as India's fifth-most capped man in T20Is; he needs one more wicket to become the fourth Indian with 100 wickets in the format.