IND, ENG TO BATTLE IN FINAL T20-I
BENGALURU: With the three-match T20I series squared at 1-1, the final game at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Wednesday promises to be an exciting contest as India will be aiming to pocket another series win while England will be hoping to end their lacklustre tour on a high.
After a poor batting display in both the previous games, all eyes will be on local boys Lokesh Rahul, and Virat Kohli (captain of the Indian Premier League side — Royal Challengers Bangalore) to give a strong start to the hosts.
Not only the opening pair, the onus of piling up a good score will also lie on the famed middle order comprising Suresh Raina, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh, with youngster Manish Pandey providing the momentum lower down.
So far, India’s middle order has failed to click as a unit in both the games, with England seizing the advantage to restrict the hosts to below par scores.
But with the game being the last limited overs outing before the International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy in June, Kohli may also want to test the bench by including the hard-hitting Rishabh Pant and Mandeep Singh in the third game.
India managed to win the second game, thanks to the last over heroics of medium pacer Jasprit Bumrah but with the dry and flat deck at the Chinnaswamy Stadium promising to be a run-feast, the ICC No.2ranked side’s batsmen cannot afford to let the opportunity slip here.
On the other hand, the visitors have shown their intent by clinching the first T20I and would eye another victory to end their dismal tour on a winning note. England’s batting will once again revolve around the likes of Joe Root, skipper Eoin Morgan, Ben Stokes and the opening duo of Jason Roy and Sam Billings.
So far England have preferred to chase in both the games and the visitors may once again go with the same strategy. Having played for the RCB, pacer Chris Jordan will be well-acquainted with the track and will once again be Morgan’s go-to option with the likes of Tymal Mills, Liam Plunkett and all-rounder Stokes.