India vs England 2021: 5th T20I, Ahmedabad - England's Predicted XI

India is set to take on England in a high voltage clash in the fifth T20 in Ahmedabad on Saturday and England will be hoping to stage a comeback and win the series. England almost pulled off a victory in the last game and at one stage, they were cruising home through the partnership of Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow.

With the series hanging at 2-2, this is the best opportunity for England to make a statement in India ahead of the T20 WorldCup and they have the sources for it too.

Here is England’s predicted XI for the final T20 game against England in the five-match series:

Jason Roy:

Jason Roy has three scores of more than the 40s now in the series but hasn’t gone on to make it big and has perished before the half-century mark. He looked very dangerous at the crease and started the chase well for England in the previous game with 40 runs off 27 balls with six fours and a six. He is likely to retain his place in the England lineup for the final T20.

Jos Buttler:

Jos Buttler is one of the best T20 players in the world and he can be a great match-winner if gets his eye in. He is a 360-degree player and is one of the best strikers of the cricket ball. He showed his match-winning ability in the third T20 where he scored 83 not out of just 52 deliveries to take England home with four sixes and five fours. He has failed in the remaining three games and is due in for another big knock.

David Malan:

David Malan has surprisingly had a quiet series despite being the number one ranked T20 batsman in the world. He has a big role to play in the England lineup while the Indian bowlers have got the better of him on most occasions. He still averages nearly 50 in the format and needs to pull up his socks with a match-winning knock in the final game.

Jonny Bairstow:

Jonny Bairstow has had decent starts so far in the series but hasn’t made it big which we have used to see him do for England or in the IPL. However, he still remains a dangerous batsman, and his partnership with Ben Stokes in the last game could have almost taken England over the line. He initially took time to get going but did play catch up and finished with 25 in 19 deliveries with one six and two fours.

Eoin Morgan:

Eoin Morgan is one of the best finishers going around in the world and he has shown it in the past in T20s against England. He has captained brilliantly so far in the series and he will like to add some more runs to his tally after missing out on the last match. His role is precious to England’s success in the final game as well as the World Cup.

Ben Stokes:

Ben Stokes was the best batsman for England in the last game and he took a heavy toll on the Indian bowlers. He perished at the crucial stage of the run chase after a fine knock of 46 runs off 23 balls with three huge sixes and four boundaries. He has been getting starts and needs to ensure that he converts into a big one. He bowled three overs taking one wicket and he will be certainly in the playing XI.

Moeen Ali:

Moeen Ali was expected to play the last game in the place of Sam Curran but it did not happen but after the performance of Sam Curran in the last T20, England will surely look to keep Moeen Ali ready for the T20 WorldCup. Adil Rashid has done well in the T20 series which might work in favour of Moeen Ali to add a spinner for the final game.

Chris Jordan:

Chris Jordan has been a little bit on the expensive side so far in the series but is most likely to retain his place, given that bowls the tough overs for England. He can hit the yorkers and has become an important member of England’s T20 squad. He can tonk the ball down the order as well and hence he will play a crucial role in England’s success.

Jofra Archer:

Jofra Archer picked up four wickets in the previous game and has been England’s number one bowler in the series alongside Mark Wood. He bowls the new ball at a good pace and swings the ball making it hard for the batsman to play and he hit two sixes in the final over off Shardul Thakur which produced a lot of scare in the Indian dugout. He will be a certainty for the final game.

Adil Rashid:

Adil Rashid has been used in the powerplay as well as in the middle overs by Morgan and he has taken crucial wickets at different stages. He has dismissed the Indian skipper twice in the series and has had the upper hand over him in the T20s. He has a big role to play for England in the limited-overs series and the Worldcup.

Mark Wood:

Mark Wood’s ability to hit the 150kmph from the word go has made it tough for the Indian batsman and especially with the new ball in the powerplay. He has troubled the batsman and has been quite economical throughout the series. England will be happy with the way he has bowled so far and would be hoping that he continues to bowl the way he did.