ENG vs IND: Don't Think India Will Make Any Changes In Second T20I - Zaheer Khan

Former Indian pace bowler Zaheer Khan feels India won’t make any change for the second T20 International match against England in Birmingham.

On Thursday (July 7), India thumped a new-looking England side by 50 runs at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. The Rohit Sharma-led side displayed intent to play aggressive cricket once they took the field and went gung-ho throughout the game.

Rohit Sharma and his men kick off the T20I series with a bang

Rohit raced to 24 runs in 14 balls before nicking one behind to his counterpart Jos Buttler off Moeen Ali’s bowling in the third over. Deepak Hooda (33 in 17 balls) and Suryakumar Yadav (39 off 19 balls) carried the momentum and scored runs in quick succession.

Although England chipped in with wickets in the middle, India never let them stage a comeback in their innings as Hardik Pandya scored his maiden T20I fifty – 51 off 33 balls – smashing six boundaries and a six to notch up his first fifty in T20Is for India. The visitors posted 198/8 in the first innings.

After Bhuvneshwar Kumar castled Buttler with a burgeoning inswinger in the first over, Hardik carried the procession forward to decimate England’s top order.

Hardik bowled Dawid Malan with a length delivery, giving no room to the southpaw to play the ball anywhere near. Four balls later, he outfoxed Liam Livingstone with a short-of-length delivery.

The England batter shuffled across the crease to play the scoop shot but all he got was a glove through to the keeper. Hardik used another length ball to get the better of England opener Jason Roy just after the powerplay overs.

India’s debutant Arshdeep Singh built the pressure from the other end, he bowled his first international over as a maiden against Roy and didn’t allow the runs to flow easily. Arshdeep picked the late wickets of Reece Topley and Matthew Parkinson late in the innings as the hosts were bowled out for 148 in 19.3 overs.

Don’t think they will make any changes: Zaheer Khan

With India’s Test regulars like Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah set to return to the squad for the second T20I, there is a possibility of numerous changes in the team. Arshdeep is the only player from the first T20I who will be dropped from the squad and the rest will be available for selection.

“It is hard to sit and figure out which direction they are going to go in terms of selection. You have seen India win the first match of the series and then not make any changes for the rest of the series. I don’t think they will make any changes. If at all, one change at most, we have to wait and see what it would be,” Zaheer said on Cricbuzz.

“I don’t see the possibility of a change and you don’t want to lose momentum. Since Arshdeep Singh is not there for the second T20I, Jasprit Bumrah will take that spot,” he added.

The second T20I between the two sides will be played at the Edgbaston in Birmingham on Saturday (July 9).

Also Read: ENG vs IND: Arshdeep Singh Joins Jhulan Goswami, Ajit Agarkar In An Elusive List To Attain This Record On T20I Debut