World Cup 2023, Match 29| England Predicted XI vs India

image-loa2piwmEngland will be facing India in the 29th match of the World Cup 2023 (Source: AP Photos)

The 2023 World Cup has reached an interesting phase with teams vying for the top four slots. India will face England in match 29 of the league stage at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The anticipated competition will commence at 2:00 PM IST.

At the moment, the Indian contingent is performing magnificently. They have won five of their five games and accumulated ten points. They are second in terms of points, slightly behind South Africa.

Their most recent victory came against New Zealand, a team that had gone nearly two decades without losing to the Asian Giants in the World Cup. This is India's first game in Chennai and they will be without Hardik Pandya for this game as well. 

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Meanwhile,  the defending champions have not lived up to their title this year. England played five matches, four of which they have lost. Their only victory came against Bangladesh in theirm second game of the bonanza event.

The English team has suffered three back-to-back defeats, the most recent of which was against Sri Lanka. Previously, they were defeated by a lower-ranked team, Afghanistan and were on the wrong side of an upset. This is a must-win game for them to stay in the race for the semis and let's have a glare at their predicted XI against India.


Openers: Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow

Despite a hat-trick of losses, England may hesitate to tinker with their opening pair. The last time when England won a game in the World Cup it was due to a brilliant stand from their openers. Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow did get start in their last game but the middle and lower middle order faltered. The former notched up 140 against Bangladesh earlier and is their leading run-getter in the ongoing competition.


Middle Order: Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Harry Brook and Jos Buttler

Joe Root is the perfect batter for the no.3 spot in the England batting line-up. He scored back-to-back fifties against New Zealand and Bangladesh but failed to continue the form in the remaining three matches. The Englishman is going to be followed by a Kiwi who represents England and is one of the legend in making i.e. Ben Stokes.

Stokes was left alone in their latest clash against Sri Lanka. He was holding one end for quite some time but fell short of partners on the other end. He scored 43 off 73 balls and shall be a part of the middle order group for England.

Harry Brook may see a return in the XI after England's loss against Sri Lanka. He scored a fifty against Afghanistan but was dropped in their most recent fixture after a rare failure against South Africa. Brook was also a part of the IPL this season and the experience may come handy against India.

Jos Buttler has failed to lead the side from the front. His recent numbers do not do justice to his potential. Being the skipper, he would look to make a comeback with the bat in hand.


All-rounders: Moeen Ali, Sam Curran and David Willey

Moeen Ali will be a crucial member of the side not just with the bat but with the ball in hand too. The surface of Lucknow favours spinners and Moeen will be one of them who could get a good amount of assist off the pitch. Being a left-hander, he also adds flexibility in the batting order.

Sam Curran and David Willey could be the left-arm pace bowling all-rounders for England in their upcoming battle against the Men in Blue. Willey was impressive with the ball in hand in their last game, bagged two wickets upfront and got early movement with the new ball.

Adding an extra left-arm pacer against a right-handed dominated batting line-up won't do any harm to England. Moreover, Curran is also a mesmerising batter and shall add the depth in their out of touch lower middle order. He has the ability to bowl across various phases and therefore may replace Chris Woakes.


Bowlers: Adil Rashid and Mark Wood

Adil Rashid, the premier spinner of England has failed to impress in the World Cup this far. The wrist spinner is one of the best in the department in the English cricketing circuit and would love bowling in the conditions of Lucknow. Mark Wood is another such guy who is quite aware of the circumstances in Lucknow. He bagged a fifer in Lucknow Super Giants' first game in IPL 2023 and with his sheer pace would look to make a mark with the ball.


England Predicted XI against India

Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c/wk), Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, David Willey, Adil Rashid, and Mark Wood.