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IND vs ENG | 2nd T20: Hosts look to make a grand comeback after getting drubbed in the opener

Aryasekhar Chakraborty

After a brutal reality check in their first T20I, India will look to come out all guns blazing when they lock horns against a strong English side in the second encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, 14 February. However, one cannot overlook past the trend that this is not the first time that the home team have lost the first match of any bilateral series. In recent years it has happened quite often and the way they have responded after being 0-1 down goes onto show the team's mettle and the ability to make a grand comeback when they are pushed towards a corner. 


Without a shade of doubt, the visiting English team was by far the strongest team in the first encounter and it will take some exceptional all-round effort from the Indian team to force their way back into the series. India at home are always the favourites without an iota of doubt but given England’s team combination and the top half of their batting order, it will be a tall task for India to get the better of them especially when they are on song. 


As far as India are concerned, the team combination for them in the opening encounter backfired. While India decided to field a spin heaving bowling attack, England just like the Test series went for a pace heavy attack and that proved to be a masterstroke from the English limited-overs skipper Eoin Morgan. His ability to think ahead of the game came to foray yet again as England thrashed India by 8 wickets in a lopsided encounter.  


India will like to believe that the defeat in the opening encounter like many other opening matches of the previous bilateral tournaments was more of an aberration. As far as the team combination is concerned, they are trying to work out their strongest combination with some of their top players resting or being unavailable due to personal commitments. With the T20 World Cup slated to be held in India later this year, the home team will like to consider this series as more of a preparation for the mega event rather than going out with their full strength in a bid to win the series. 


Unlike the Test series, England are fielding their best possible side with the likes of Jos Buttler and some other T20 specialists back for the white-ball set-up. Jofra Archer who was doubtful for the series owing to an elbow injury was fit enough to take part in the series opener but lamented the fact that he couldn’t bowl at full tilt. However, he did make a match-winning impact in the game bagging three crucial wickets which were instrumental in restricting India to a below-par score of 124 runs. 


The return of other limited-overs specialists including the likes of Jos Buttler and Jason Roy also bolstered the English unit as both looked in complete command of proceedings in the opening encounter and made a mockery of the target set by the home team. Meanwhile, Jonny Bairstow also smashed some lusty blows and was trying to amends for a flop show in the Test series. His power-hitting resembled the fact that he was trying to wipe away the frustration of the Test series. 


India vs England: Match Details

Match No.-02

Date and Time: March 14, 07:00 PM IST, 01:30 PM GMT

Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad

Broadcast and Live Stream: Star Sports, Hotstar


Pitch conditions

If you go by the pitch which was on offer in the opening T20I you have to agree that it wasn’t the best of batting wickets. However just as many predicted that it could be a rank turner yet again just like the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, it wasn’t really the case. The pitch under any stress of imagination was easy to bat on but and it was holding on the pitch quite often. However this time around, it was the English side who got their combination right and fielded a XI which proved to be ideal for the surface. As far as the second encounter is concerned, mostly, it might be almost an identical wicket and if played on the same track, could offer a little more help to the spin bowlers. Both teams would look to chase on this one given the uncertainty of the nature of the new pitch.


Team News 


India 


It was mentioned by skipper Virat Kohli during the toss in the opening encounter that Rohit Sharma will be rested for the first two encounters. Hence India should go with the same opening combination in Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul. While Rahul has proven himself in this format, it will be a huge match for Dhawan to prove his mettle. Given his poor returns in this format especially in the international arena, Dhawan is no longer the first choice opening pair for India in the shortest format. Kohli clearly mentioned ahead of the opening encounter that Rohit and Rahul will be the two frontline openers in this format going forward. The void of Rohit Sharma is immense in the limited-overs format and it will be interesting to see whether Kohli keeps his words or is forced to include Rohit in the XI for the second encounter after India’s dismal performance in the opening encounter. 


As far as team combination is concerned, India would not like to chop and change too much going into the T20 WC. Dhawan at the top of the order might be a concern and the only other option if Rohit is not playing is to open with either Ishan Kishan or Suryakumar Yadav. 

Both of these players have the experience of opening the innings for Mumbai Indians and it will be interesting to see if the team management takes that path. 


As far as the bowling line-up is concerned, not much needs to be changed at the moment. Navdeep Saini might come back in favour of Shardul Thakur but there should be room for Deepak Chahar who has proved his credentials in the shortest format. His skill sets might be similar to Bhuvneshwar Kumar but you cannot drop a bowler who has come up with match-winning performances in this format whenever given an opportunity. As far as the spin department is concerned they might opt to drop either Axar Patel or Washington Sundar and bring in a pacer. 


Predicted XI 


India


Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli (c), Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Navdeep Saini, Yuzvendra Chahal 


England 


Nothing much needs to be changed for the visiting team. Their top-order looks settled as ever and with Jason Roy storming back into form, England is left with no other options but to play Jonny Bairstow in the middle order. Jos Buttler also came out all guns blazing and blasted the Indian bowlers during his attractive knock in the opening encounter. Roy who came into this encounter on the back of some poor returns in this format showed why he is regarded as one of the most destructive batsmen of the modern generation. He took on the Indian bowlers with utter disdain and ensured England reached the target with consummate ease in the end. He remained unbeaten on 49 of 31 deliveries. 


The middle-order wasn’t tested that much in the opening encounter so there shouldn’t be any change in the XI, especially in the top half. There could be some issues with Jofra Archer owing to the shoulder injury but just like the opening encounter, he could play even if he is not 100 per cent. A spin bowling option might be brought in the form of Moeen Ali if they feel the pitch could offer some turn. All in all, England looks a strong side without much chopping and changing required. 


Predicted XI 


Jason Roy, Jos Buttler, Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, Eoin Morgan, Ben Stokes, Sam Curran, Jofra Archer/Moeen Ali, Mark Wood, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid 

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