ENG vs IND: India's best probable XI for 2nd and 3rd T20I

The three-match T20I series between England and India will commence on July 7. BCCI has announced two different India squads, one for the first game and the other for the last two T20Is. India skipper Rohit Sharma is set to return to the team after taking some time off the field since the Indian Premier League (IPL) and also after recovering from Covid-19.

Other senior players such as Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli are also back in the limited-overs squad and will play the last two T20Is. England will go into the series with their newly appointed captain Jos Buttler after their long-serving ex-captain Eoin Morgan retired from international cricket last month after their series against the Netherlands. 

The first game will be played in Southampton, the second in Birmingham on July 9, and the third in Nottingham on July 10. Following the T20I series, there will be a three-match ODI series, which will begin on July 12.

Here is India‘s probable XI for the 2nd and 3rd T20Is against England:

1. Rohit Sharma (C)

It is obvious that the Indian skipper will be the first name on the team sheet. Rohit Sharma is set to make his first appearance in the series for India since the conclusion of the IPL in May. 

Rohit was not part of the home T20I series against South Africa and the away series against Ireland last month. He was expected to lead the Indian team for the rescheduled fifth Test in Birmingham but was ruled out due to Covid-19.

Rohit, however, has had a below-par 2022 with the bat in the shortest format, scoring only 116 runs in six innings for India and 268 runs in 14 innings in IPL 2022. He might look to get some runs and his form back, keeping the upcoming T20 World Cup in mind.

2. Ishan Kishan

Kishan is arguably the best Indian batter in the format at the moment. Since his debut in March 2021, he has appeared in 17 matches, scoring 524 runs at a strike rate of 134.01.

Kishan, particularly this year, has been impressive, scoring 411 runs in 12 innings with a strike rate of 133.87 and an average of 34.25. He also had an impressive IPL 2022, scoring 418 runs in 14 innings, and home series against the Proteas, scoring 206 runs in five innings with a strike rate of 150.36.

The left-hander has been the kind of opener, who bats with a fearless approach at the top, scoring some quick runs in the powerplay and taking the team off to a flyer. He has been making a case for a spot in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup in Australia.

3. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli should be back in action in limited-overs cricket with India after taking some time out after the IPL. At the moment, he is in a bit of a slump, looking for runs with the bat and trying to get his rhythm back.

As far as his T20I record for 2022 is concerned, Kohli has only played two matches and scored 69 runs with a top score of 52. But he had a gloomy IPL 2022, by his own standards, scoring 341 runs in 16 matches at an average of 22.73 and a strike rate of 115.99.

However, when he has an experience of 97 T20Is under his belt, scoring a staggering 3,296 runs with an average of 51.50 and a strike rate of 137.67, he has simply got to play when he is available and cannot be written off.

4. Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav is one of the most skilful and innovative batters that India has, at the moment. He had a great run of form in the IPL 2022 before being ruled out due to an unfortunate forearm injury.

Yadav appeared in eight matches for Mumbai Indians (MI) in this season’s IPL, scoring 303 runs at an average of 43.29 and a strike rate of 145.67. Since his T20I debut in 2021, he has played in 16 matches, scoring 366 runs at an average of 33.27 and an explosive strike rate of 167.88.

Surya, after recovering from the injury, was back in the India team for the Ireland series. He also played the two warm-up T20 games against Derbyshire and Northamptonshire. Although he has not been particularly impressive since his return, he is expected to find his feet again in the coming days.

5. Rishabh Pant (wk)

Rishabh Pant has become one of India’s core team members as the wicketkeeper-batter since MS Dhoni’s retirement. And he might be the wicketkeeper the Indian management is looking at, along with Ishan Kishan and Dinesh Karthik, in the scheme of things.

In IPL 2022, Pant scored 340 runs in 13 innings with an average of 30.91 and a strike rate of 151.79. Following that, he failed to get going with the bat in the series against South Africa, as he scored only 58 runs in five innings.

But with the captaincy duties off his shoulders, and coming with some good form from the Test match in Edgbaston, he could be among runs again. And his natural game of taking on the bowlers and playing some counter-attacking innings under pressure in the middle phase is something that the team might be looking for.

6. Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya, at the moment, has been a revelation for Indian cricket with his ability to lead a side and take the matters into his own hands to see off his team’s victory. He captained the IPL side Gujarat Titans (GT) and guided them to the title in their debut season.

Pandya, apart from scoring 487 runs at an average of 44.27 and also picking up eight wickets in IPL 2022, received a lot of praise for his performance in the final against Rajasthan Royals (RR). He finished with bowling figures of three wickets for 17 runs in four overs, also scored 34 runs to bring GT out of their initial setback during the chase, and went on to win the Player of the Match award.

When he is picked as a pure all-rounder, he offers balance to the team with his three-dimensional abilities and the cricketing intelligence to play according to the situation.

7. Dinesh Karthik

The last three months, since the start of the IPL, have been virtually the revival period of Karthik as he had a break-out season with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). He has been thriving with his newfound role as a finisher and was undoubtedly one of the best batters in the competition.

In IPL 2022, Karthik scored 330 runs at an average of 55.00 and a strike rate of 183.33, with a top score of 66*. Following the IPL, he forced his way back into the India team and has been one of the regular starters ever since.

Karthik was also impressive against South Africa with his valuable cameos in the back end of the innings, scoring 92 runs with an average of 46.00 and a strike rate of 158.62. He could be the designated finisher for India, going into the T20 World Cup.

8. Harshal Patel

Harshal Patel has been one of the best Indian bowlers over the last two years in the shortest format. He had his breakout year in IPL 2021 with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) when he bagged a record-equalling 32 wickets in the season in 15 games.

Patel was also impressive in IPL 2022, picking up 19 wickets at an economy rate of 7.66 in 15 matches. He was also the top wicket-taker in the series against South Africa with seven wickets in four innings, having an economy rate of 7.23 and a strike rate of 10.4.

Patel, in recent times, has developed a reputation for being a handy death bowler with his subtle variations and ability to pick up key wickets. He has been one of the regular starters for India lately.

9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been one of India’s most dependable bowlers over the years as well as in recent games. He is known for his ability to contain the batters and keep the run rate in check with his disciplined bowling in the powerplay and in the death overs.

Kumar is especially useful during the powerplay with his swing and seam, which was also a big plus for India during the series against South Africa. With six wickets in four innings at an economy rate of just over six, he was adjudged as the Player of the Series.

In IPL 2022, he picked up 12 wickets in 14 games at an economy rate of 7.34. With conditions that would suit a swing bowler like Kumar, he is expected to be one of the first names on the team sheet among the pacers for the series in England.

10. Jasprit Bumrah

Bumrah, like Kohli and Rohit, is one of the household names in the Indian cricketing fraternity. When available, he must start for India in the T20 format. In this format, he is a versatile bowler and can deliver bowling from any phase of the innings. 

Bumrah has been one of the most consistent performers in the IPL for Mumbai Indians (MI) and also had yet another good performance this year, as he got 15 wickets at an economy rate of 7.18.

Bumrah was part of the previous T20 World Cup in 2016 and every ICC event that India partook in ever since. The 28-year-old, being one of the best and most experienced players in the team, must get some game time going forward, keeping the upcoming T20 World Cup in mind.

11. Yuzvendra Chahal

Keeping the English conditions in mind, India might go with only one spinner, and that could be the in-form leggie, Yuzvendra Chahal. After having a bit of a stop-start run with India, he forced himself back to being one of the starters, following a great IPL season with Rajasthan Royals (RR).

In IPL 2022, he was the top wicket-taker with 27 wickets in 17 innings with an economy of 7.75 and a strike rate of 15.1. Chahal is also one of the experienced campaigners for India, and that might be needed in a spinner while playing overseas.

With 75 T20I wickets under his belt in only 60 games, with an economy of 8.12, he should be in contention for a place in the Indian team, to say the least, if not in the playing XI.