It Will Be England's Batsmen Vs Indian Spinners: Monty Panesar Picks The Battle To Watch Out For In India-England T20I Series

Former England cricketer Monty Panesar has backed the Eoin Morgan-led visitors to win the five-match T20I series against India, stating that the World No.1 ranked T20I team will start as favorites.

Blessed with a power-packed batting-unit and plenty of multi-dimensional cricketers, England is comfortably the best white-ball side (T20 and ODIs) of the current era.

Most of their players have vast experience of playing in the IPL and according to Monty Panesar feel that the prior exposure to Indian conditions will help England in the upcoming rubber.

In Jason Roy, Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan, and Ben Stokes, England boast of a fearsome top-6, which Monty Panesar feels is better than that of India’s.

Panesar, however, reckoned that England’s main challenge will come against the Indian spinners and according to him, whoever comes out trump in that battle, will win the series.

“England are the World No. 1 team in T20Is. The best part is that more than half of the team has played in the IPL. So, they know the conditions well. England are favourites to win the series. The only concern is their middle order and how they deal Yuzvendra Chahal, the leg-spinner, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar. The series will be dominated by spinners. It is a different format. England will bounce back strongly,” said Monty Panesar in an exclusive interview with Time of India.

“It will be England batsmen vs Indian spinners. England top’s six can take the game away from India. England’s top six is stronger than India’s top six. They have Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, and Ben Stokes. For India, Chahal, the leg-spinner will be crucial for India. He is a clever bowler and has got variations. He is the one who can stop the England batsmen. His four overs will be critical. If India wants to win, it depends on how Chahal’s four overs go. Chahal needs to bowl well if India have to win the T20I series,” added Monty Panesar.

As far as the overall T20I head-to-head record between India and England is concerned, both sides have won seven apiece. However, India has won the last two T20I series by 2-1 against Eoin Morgan’s men; something the No.2 ranked team will be looking to avenge in the five-match rubber.

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