IND v ENG, 1st T20I, Preview: Fresh faces take centre stage

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MS Dhoni & Virat Kohli India
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MS Dhoni & Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: Twitter)

The visiting England team had a horrid on the tour of India until they finally registered a win in the Kolkata ODI. Having lost the Test series poorly with a scoreline of 0-4, the visitors had a lot to ponder about before heading into the limited-overs leg. It looked like a good homework done by the Englishmen as they posted high scored throughout the 3 ODIs.

However, they still ended up losing it 2-1. Now, with the 3-match T20I series coming in, the action moves to the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur for the first match. The question that most people would ask is whether the England team can overhaul the spirited Indians in the T20 setup.

From India’s perspective, this will be Virat Kohli’s first match as the captain of the Indian team in a T20I. He has the experience of leading a T20 side and had successfully led Royal Challengers Bangalore to the finals of the IPL earlier this year. Yet another fact that makes the series interesting is the plethora of fresh faces that have joined both the sides. With the match scheduled to an early start of 16:30 (IST), expect the side batting first holding an edge in the match.

Team News

India

Team India faces the same old problem in this T20 series as well. They have a problem of plenty. With the likes of Suresh Raina joining the team, it is very unlikely that Raina will be asked to sit out. In order to accommodate him in the side, India might well be tempted to have Virat Kohli promoted as the opener in the lineup.

As Kohli himself admitted at the press conference, he is ready for the opening slot if the team needs it. The middle order looks set with Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni striking good form in the ODI setup. Manish Pandey is most likely to walk into the side and might be picked ahead of young sensation Rishabh Pant. KL Rahul will be the first choice opener unless a last moment change sees him being replaced by Mandeep Singh, who opened for India in Zimbabwe last year in the T20Is.

Parvez Rasool will make it to the team to join Amit Mishra in the spin department and Yuzvendra Chahal will have to sit out. Veteran pacer Ashish Nehra is fit and raring to go as well and he will be supported by Jasprit Bumrah, as seen during the World T20 last year.

England

Their batting was fantastic in the ODI series and they will look to carry forward that momentum in the T20 series as well. Ben Stokes has been striking the ball hard and that serves the purpose of the finisher in the team. The tour is yet to see the heroics of Jos Buttler.

Expect Buttler to show his skills in the format that he fancies the most. In another positive, their star batsman Joe Root has been declared fit and is available for selection. The bowling line up has been dented with David Willey being ruled out of the first match. England have roped in T20 specialist Tymal Mills.

The left-arm pacer is renowned for clocking speeds close to 150kmph. Chris Jordan might also get his first look in on the tour. The absence of Alex Hales will give Sam Billings the chance to open alongside the in-form batsman Jason Roy.

 

Toss: England won the toss & elected to bowl first

Morgan: “We are going to bowl first. We put in a lot of hard work into that series. So, it was good to get a result. Two very good teams and hopefully we can put up a good performance. It is probably going to be a good batting track. The guys missing out are Jake Ball, Bairstow and Liam Dawson.”

England (Playing XI): Jason Roy, Sam Billings, Joe Root(c), Eoin Morgan, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler(w), Moeen Ali, Chris Jordan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Tymal Mills

Kohli: “I would have bowled first as well. It is important to have some seniors to groom the youngsters. We saw that in the ODI series. It should remain a good wicket throughout the day. It is still a mystery. Rasool is making his debut. Chahal is the other spinner. Nehra, Bumrah and Hardik Pandya is the allrounder.”

India (Playing XI): KL Rahul, V Kohli, MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Suresh Raina, Parvez Rasool, Y Chahal, A Nehra, J Bumrah

Match Facts

Venue: Eden Park Stadium, Kanpur

Time: 1630 (IST), 1100 (GMT)

StAttack

1. Virat Kohli has captained in 72 matches in his T20 career. He is yet to lead team India in the format.

2. Yuvraj Singh has been named Player of the Match against England in T20Is on two occasions.

3. The last time when KL Rahul featured in a T20I, he scored a century against West Indies.

4. Kanpur has never hosted a T20I before this.

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