ENG vs IND: India's predicted playing XI for 1st T20I

After white-washing Ireland in the two-match T20I series, team India will take on second-seeded England in T20Is, as Southampton gears up to host the series opener on Thursday (July 7th). The good news for team India is that their regular all-format skipper Rohit Sharma will be back in action after missing out on the rescheduled fifth Test match, owing to Covid positive reports.

England will step into the game under the leadership of Jos Buttler as the hosts will look to outplay the top-seeded T20 side i.e. India. The three-match series is being considered the perfect preparation for both sides as they both will eye to horn their arsenal before T20I World Cup 2022, scheduled later this year in Australia.

Let’s look at India’s probable playing XI for the 1st T20I against England:

1. Rohit Sharma

India’s regular all-format skipper Rohit Sharma is already out of isolation and started his preparation for the white-ball series. He will kick start his England tour with the first T20I and will hope to get much-needed runs under his belt after a horrific IPL 2022 stint. In the absence of KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma will get the company of his Mumbai Indians teammate Ishan Kishan at the top order as the pair is expected to start the proceedings for team India.

2. Ishan Kishan

Ishan Kishan has been in impressive form recently as he smashed 191 runs in four innings of a five-match T20I against South Africa. Although Ishan could not deliver performances up to his reputation in IPL 2022, the young Indian batter is considered a strong prospect to open India’s innings in future.

3. Sanju Samson

Wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson is expected to get a chance in the XI after his superb 77-run knock against Ireland. Samson had a relatively better IPL season and demand for his inclusion in the squad was coming from all quarters. Hence, selectors gave him a chance against Ireland which the Indian batter grabbed perfectly by playing a vital knock in the second T20I against Ireland.

4. Suryakumar Yadav

Mumbai Indians batter Suryakumar Yadav has cemented his position in the white-ball format owing to his several match-winning knocks. The Indian batter was in prime form in IPL 2022 as he played a couple of pivotal knocks for the five-time champions. The Indian batter is considered a vital part of the white-ball squad and will surely be in playing XI against England.

5. Deepak Hooda

Deepak Hooda has made a remarkable comeback to the national squad as he continued his superb form from IPL 2022 and smashed his maiden international hundred in the second T20I against Ireland. Hooda was at his best as he hammered 104 off 57 deliveries with the help of nine boundaries and six maximums. The Lucknow Super Giants batter is expected to get more chances at the international level and should be part of the first T20I against England.

6. Hardik Pandya

Indian star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been in his best form since making a comeback to the national squad after a fairy-tale season in IPL 2022. Hardik won his maiden T20I series against Ireland as a skipper and will be seen in action in the three-match T20I series opener. Pandya has regained the ability to bowl four overs and strategically improved batting style will be an edge for the visitors in the first T20I against England.

7. Dinesh Karthik

Veteran wicket-keeper batter is on a mission to do something amazing for the country. After impressing the cricket fraternity with his reincarnation avatar in IPL 2022, Dinesh Karthik was well rewarded by the Indian selectors as he was included in the T20I series against South Africa.

Ever since then, he has fulfilled the finisher’s role quite comprehensively due to which he has been considered a mandatory pick for the upcoming T20I World Cup 2022. The veteran batter is expected to take the responsibility behind the wickets as regular wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant has been rested from the first T20I.

8. Harshal Patel

The RCB pacer is widely recognized as the death-over specialist and he has been in the scheme of things for the T20 World Cup 2022. Harshal also amazed everyone with his superb batting in the second warm-up against Northamptonshire where he smashed 54 off 36 deliveries. He also picked two wickets in the second innings and bowled a perfect last over where he comfortably defended 10-runs.

9. Yuzvendra Chahal

The purple cap holder of IPL 2022 is regarded as a top-notch spinner in the world. Chahal has proved his supremacy in the shortest format on numerous occasions. Amongst his most notable performance in recent times, the leggy picked his maiden hat-trick for his IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals against Kolkata Knight Riders. Even, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar recently admitted that Chahal was a major miss in last year’s T20I World Cup and he will be the trump card for team India in Australia.

10. Avesh Khan

Avesh Khan has emerged as one of the top-notch pacers for team India. After putting up a great show in IPL 2022 by picking 18 wickets in 13 appearances, Khan has performed relatively well in bilateral tournaments. Cricket pundits have recognised Khan’s ability for the international stage and he might get a call for the T20 WC if he performs well in the England series. In his 8-match old career, Khan has picked 7 wickets in T20Is and has bowled with an economy of 7.68.

11. Bhuvneshwar Kumar

He might not have a sheer pace like Jasprit Bumrah and Umran Malik, but has the ability to swing the ball both ways and consistently bowl with tight lines and lengths is his biggest strength. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been the second-highest wicket-taker this year in T20Is with 12 wickets under his belt. He was also the Player of the Series in the recently-concluded five-match T20I series between India and South Africa. With supreme form on his side this time, Bhuvi will surely get a chance in the series opener in the three-match T20I against England.