Manchester: Their supremacy in shorter formats is redoubtable but India will have their task cut out against a vastly improved England in the opening T20 game in what will be a defining summer for Virat Kohli and his team.
While India has been a consistent limited overs side during the past decade, England have finally found their mojo in ODIs and T20s, courtesy a group of fantastic limited overs players like Jos Buttler, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Alex Hales and not to forget captain Eoin Morgan though. They have a batting order that can destroy the most lethal of bowling attacks and it is this department that India will be a bit worried about.
The injury to Jasprit Bumrah has depleted India’s bowling strength to a great extent. The unavailability of the death overs specialist means India will be going into the series with an attack that have little or no experience playing in England and in English conditions. Save Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav – the others have not played a full-fledged series in England and that may be of great hindrance against England who bat deep.
With the 2019 ODI World Cup less than 12 months away, there is more than bragging rights at stake as both sides look to fine-tune preparations against an opposition of note.
India are coming into the series with two facile victories over Ireland – by 72 and 143 runs respectively but Kohli knows too well that England will be a different proposition.
England are coming into series on the back of 6-0 drubbing of Australia with Buttler, Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow in fantastic form.
Dating back to June 2017, England have won five out of nine T20Is played against South Africa, West Indies, Australia and New Zealand. Therein, they did endure a torrid time in the tri-series against the latter two sides (earlier in March), losing three out of four games.
To start off the series, the Indian team management is to go in for set combinations. Siddarth Kaul could come into consideration as well, if one of the wrist spinners is benched. That option will be dependent on pitch conditions, but it has been two very hot days by Manchester standards, and so both spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal could come into play in the baking sun.
- India have won 15 of their last T20 internationals while England have a success rate of five from nine games
- The thumb injury to Jasprit Bumrah has ruled him out of the T20 series and will be a concern to India
- England bat deep down and hence will not be easy pushovers
