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

An exciting contest is set to take place as India and England gear up for the fifth T20 in Ahmedabad on Saturday and this match is expected to determine the winner of the series. England won the first and the third T20 while India staged two comebacks in the second and fourth T20 to level the series at 2-2. There has been nothing to differentiate between the two teams who have a strong squad.

India went on to win the previous T20 game while batting first and that would have given a lot more confidence for Virat Kohli’s men considering that the first three games went in favour of the team batting second. India had a lot more positives from the last game and they will fancy their chances to close out the final game to win the series. Here is India’s predicted XI for the final game.

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

Rohit Sharma(VC):

Rohit Sharma will be the first name on the team sheet though he hasn’t been effective in the last two T20 games. He would be the first choice opener for India in the T20 World Cup hence, he must get settled with as many as opportunities. Also, Rohit is a big match player and will surely put his hands up when the team requires the most. He could due in for a big score after two failures in the last two games.

KL Rahul:

KL Rahul is a match-winner in the format and has been India’s best T20 player in the last two to three years. Despite his struggles in the last five T20 games for India, he will play a big part in the T20 World Cup, hence should be given another opportunity to get back into his rhythm. He should look to play his natural game and rather than taking lot of time which has put the other batsman under pressure.

Virat Kohli(C):

Virat Kohli was stumped for the first time in his T20 international career off the bowling of Adil Rashid in the last match and he would have not been happy with his dismissal. However, he looked solid in the second and third T20 and looked to have found his touch. His decision-making will be tested in a high voltage game like this and he will have to be at his best for India’s success.

Ishan Kishan:

Ishan Kishan should be picked for the final T20 game against England to give him another opportunity and Rishabh Pant needs to be rested for the final game as he has been playing continuously from the Australian tour. Ishan Kishan wasn’t picked in the ODI squad against England, and hence this will be the best chance for him to showcase his talent again on the bigger stage. He can play the role of a Rishabh Pant as a left-hander and also as a wicketkeeper given that Pant is a certainty for the T20 WorldCup.

Suryakumar Yadav:

Suryakumar Yadav had a dream start to his international career as he smacked Jofra Archer for a six in his first ball. He hit a fine half-century with three sixes and six fours in his previous knock and looked very comfortable without any nerves during his first outing in the international stages. His excellent knock earned him a place in the ODI squad too for the England series and will most probably play the fifth T20.

Shreyas Iyer:

Shreyas Iyer has been facing tough competition from the players on the bench but he has stepped up at crucial times for India and showed why he is rated so highly in domestic cricket. He played a blinder of an innings in the last game with 37 runs off just 18 deliveries at the end which propelled India to a score of 185 on the board and turned out to be the difference in the end.

Hardik Pandya:

Hardik Pandya was the biggest positive for India in the previous game where he picked up two crucial wickets and bowled brilliantly at the death. Virat Kohli has backed him to bowl four overs and he did the job conceding just 16 runs in his four overs. His slower ones were very difficult to hit and he fits in the much-needed balance when he bowls like this.

Washington Sundar:

Washington Sundar has become an integral part of Indian bowling and his ability with the bat down the order is an enormous advantage to have at eight. He was taken to the cleaners in the previous game by the England batsman but his overall career economy rate has been under seven and it was an off game for him. He is expected to come back strong for this game.

Shardul Thakur:

Shardul Thakur took three wickets in his last game which changed the course of the game and despite conceding more than 10 an over, his slower ones did the job finally. He did find the boundaries coming down the order and showed his all-around abilities which will come in handy for the T20 WorldCup. He bowled the final over of the previous game and was under immense pressure but held his nerve in the end.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar:

Bhuvneshwar Kumar looked like nearing his best form in the last game and produced a good spell of four overs taking 1 wicket for 30 runs. He bowled a maiden over and was brilliant at the end which halted the momentum of England’s chances. He has led the pace attack in the absence of Bumrah and he will have to carry his good form into the last T20 for India’s success.

Rahul Chahar:

Rahul Chahar replaced Yuzvendra Chahal in the previous game and he did a decent job while taking an important wicket of David Malan with a beauty. He doesn’t turn the ball much and he bowls at a very good pace giving no time for the batsman to read him off the pitch. He finished with figures of 2 wickets for 35 runs in his four overs and is likely to retain his place.