England Faces Must-Win Match Against India in T20I Series
Jos Buttler’s England team will be looking to turn things around in their five-match T20I series against India. After suffering losses in the first two games, the pressure is on the team to perform as they face a do-or-die scenario. Brendon McCullum, in his initial role as England’s white-ball coach, is eager to avoid a series loss and would prefer to start his tenure on a more positive note.
The series continues with the third T20I scheduled for Tuesday, January 28, at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot. Known for its high-scoring games, Rajkot might provide England with the opportunity they need to regain their footing in the series.
So far in 2023, Rajkot has seen a mix of white-ball matches. In an ODI against Australia, India struggled as Australia’s top order put together a formidable total of 352 runs. However, in a T20I against Sri Lanka, India’s Suryakumar Yadav shone brightly, scoring an impressive century (112*), leading the team to a total of 228 runs.
Given the pitch’s history of favoring batsmen, fans can expect an exciting, high-scoring match, especially after the previous two games that have showcased a more balanced contest between bat and ball.
Both teams’ bowling units have shown strength in the series thus far. India has leaned on their spinners while England’s pace attack has thrived on the bounce and pace offered by pitches in Kolkata and Chennai. Depending on Rajkot’s conditions, fans may see a shift towards a more batting-friendly game.
Team Updates: India vs. England, 3rd T20I
India has made some changes to their squad, bringing in Ramandeep Singh and Shivam Dube to replace Rinku Singh and Nitish Kumar Reddy. There’s a chance one of them could make an appearance in the Rajkot T20I if the team feels they need an additional bowling option. In that case, Dhruv Jurel might make way for the new faces.
While there hasn’t been any update on Mohammed Shami’s fitness, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak mentioned that the fast bowler is actively training, and the final decision about his participation in the T20Is will come from the head coach.
Concerns have been raised about Suryakumar Yadav’s recent performance, but Kotak reassured fans that expecting runs in every match can be unrealistic, given the aggressive style of cricket they play.
India has already secured two victories, while England has faced challenges. Under McCullum, the English batting has struggled to handle India’s spinners, and they might reconsider their aggressive approach as the series moves forward.
England has opted to retain their unchanged XI for the upcoming match, trusting their current lineup while needing to adjust strategies to compete against the world’s top T20 team.
Rajkot Pitch and Weather Conditions
The pitch at Rajkot is expected to favor batsmen, with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak indicating it should be high-scoring given its history. Tuesday is looking to be a pleasant day in Rajkot, with cooler temperatures and some dew forecasted for the evening, which may impact the match.
Predicted Line-ups
Having brought in Dhruv Jurel for the second T20I in place of Rinku Singh, it’s possible India could make another change if Jurel’s performance is not up to par. Either Shivam Dube or Ramandeep Singh might step in.
India’s Expected Line-up:
- Sanju Samson (wk)
- Abhishek Sharma
- Suryakumar Yadav (c)
- Tilak Varma
- Hardik Pandya
- Washington Sundar
- Dhruv Jurel/Shivam Dube
- Axar Patel
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Arshdeep Singh
- Varun Chakravarthy
England’s Confirmed Line-up:
- Ben Duckett
- Philip Salt (wk)
- Jos Buttler (c)
- Harry Brook
- Liam Livingstone
- Jamie Smith
- Jamie Overton
- Brydon Carse
- Jofra Archer
- Adil Rashid
- Mark Wood
Match Details
The third T20I between India and England is set to kick off at 7:00 PM IST at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot. Fans can catch the live action on Star Sports, with live streaming available on Hotstar.
