Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/X]
On Sunday, India will lock horns with England in the final T20 International of the ongoing five-match series on home soil. The highly anticipated encounter will be played at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Led by Suryakumar Yadav, India have already taken an unassailable lead of 3-1 in the series. The Men in Blue showcased remarkable resilience in the fourth T20I, swatting aside the tourists by 15 runs. With the series already lost, England will play for their pride and conclude the T20I leg on a high note.
As the stage is set for a cracking contest in Mumbai, let's see how the surface at Wankhede Stadium will behave throughout the match.
Wankhede Stadium Mumbai Stats And Records In T20Is
Criterion | Data |
---|---|
Matches played | 12 |
Matches won batting 1st | 5 |
Matches won bowling 1st | 7 |
Average 1st innings score | 172 |
Average 2nd innings score | 161 |
Wankhede Stadium Mumbai Pitch Report: Is It Batting Or Bowling Friendly?
The pitch at Wankhede Stadium is regarded as one of the most batting-friendly tracks in the country. The average scoring rate in eight men's T20Is at this venue reads 9.34, suggesting the surface's conduciveness to batting. The fast bowlers might find a hint of movement early on, but overall, the conditions will be excellent for stroke play.
Batters with a strong back foot game will likely enjoy the pitch's pace and bounce to score runs. Furthermore, its short square boundaries will likely be exploited by batters like Suryakumar Yadav, who can frustrate the opposition with their 360 degree stroke play.
All in all, expect a batting beauty with little help for the bowlers. So, the fast bowlers must be accurate and vary their pace wisely, while the spinners should focus on keep things tight in the middle overs. Considering the pitch doesn't change much with time and the fact that chasing teams have won five out of eight men's T20Is, the toss-winner will likely bowl first.
Players To Watch Out For At Wankhede Stadium
Hardik Pandya
- India's premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya showcased exemplary form in the fourth T20I, scoring 53 runs off 30 balls. Wankhede is Pandya's IPL home ground and his all-round prowess could be a huge plus for India on this batting-friendly deck.
Jos Buttler
- England captain Jos Buttler loves playing on pitches with true pace and bounce. He is an incredible player of raw pace and has struck 759 runs at an average of 34.5 and a strike rate of 144.29 at this venue in the IPL.
Suryakumar Yadav
- Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav hasn't had a great series, managing only 26 runs across four outings. However, the swashbuckling batter has vast experience in playing at Wankhede Stadium, having represented Mumbai Indians in the IPL. Surya has slammed 1083 IPL runs at an average of 38.67 and a strike rate of 162.12 and might regain his form in this match.
P.S: Apart from these players, the eyes will be on Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Mohammed Shami (if plays), Ben Duckett, Harry Brook and Jofra Archer.