India vs England: Key T20 specialists to watch out for
Both Virat Kohli and Eoin Morgan will be looking at some of their specialist players to give them the edge in the 3-match T20I series.
Mumbai: England’s tour of India has been a long and arduous one, with the visitors being able to register just one win so far.
A 4-0 loss in a five-match Test series followed by a 2-1 loss in a three-game ODI series does not bode well for the Three Lions’ morale. However, England have finally been able to register a win in the last ODI at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, something that will provide some much-needed morale booster to the Three Lions’ camp.
With the three-match T20I series between India and England set to get underway at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur, both the sides will be looking at some of their specialist players to give them the edge in the shortest format of the game. So here’s a look at some of the players to watch out for from both the sides.
England
Tymal Mills
There is a lot of buzz going on about England’s new pace bowler Tymal Mills, who has been included in the Three Lions’ squad for the three T20Is. The 24-year-old has the ability to consistently hurl deliveries around the 140 kmph mark.
Mills’ only stint in international cricket so far has been one T20I against Sri Lanka last year. However, he is largely being tipped as a specialist bowler for the shortest format of the game, who could do some damage to the Indian batting lineup.
Even India skipper Virat Kohli acknowledged that Mills could be effective in the shorter format. He said, "They have brought him (Mills) as a T20 specialist, he might have a set of skills which is required for this format.”
Jason Roy
With key bowlers like Umesh Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja rested, and Mohammed Shami injured, the Indian bowlers may have a tough time against the England top order. One man in particular could do some real damage – Jason Roy.
The 25-year-old impressed in England colours in last year’s ICC world T20 held in India, and could carry that confidence into the T20I series against the Men in Blue.
Indian fans will especially remember the 48 (from 16 balls) he scored against South Africa at the Wankhede, and the 78 (from 44 balls) he notched up against New Zealand at the Feroz Shah Kotla last year, to help England reach the final of the T20 World Cup.
Ben Stokes
Versatility is a very important virtue, when it comes to T20 cricket, and Ben Stokes is a man who provides England just that. The 25-year-old is handy with both the bat and the ball. His all-round performance in the third ODI against India at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata highlights Stokes’ versatility in the side.
To add to that, stokes has the capability to hit a few around the park, with a cracking strike rate of 143.13. While he can go for a few runs while bowling, Stokes has the uncanny knack of picking up wickets during important stages of the match.
India
Parvez Rasool
Although he has been in and around the Indian squad for some time now, Parvez Rasool has played only one ODI for India, something that the Kashmiri spinner would like to change, with a good performance against England.
India’s decision to rest first choice spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja has given Rasool the perfect opportunity to show the selectors what he is worth, and put his name in contention for regular call-ups to the Indian squad.
The 27-year-old can also bat, something that could come in handy in the shortest format of the game. India’s ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, has not been in the greatest of forms in the shorter versions of the game, and Rasool could well be looking to replace the Chennai-lad in 50-over and 20-over cricket.
Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant has been an absolute revelation this season, and could play a crucial role for Team India, if he is given a chance. The 19-year-old has been largely tipped to be Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s successor behind the stumps, after becoming the fourth highest scorer in the 2016/17 Ranji Trophy with 972 runs.
It is unlikely though, that Dhoni will be dropped for any of the three T20Is, as the 35-year-old, who has already retired from Test cricket, does not have much cricketing action ahead of him, after the England tour.
However, Pant does have some experience in opening the innings in T20s, having done that for the Delhi Daredevils last season. With India struggling to find a suitable opening partner for KL Rahul in the absence of the injured Rohit Sharma, Kohli may just give the nod to Pant to play as a specialist opener instead of playing as a wicketkeeper-batsman.
Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina is no stranger to the shortest format of the game, having played more than 200 T20s at the domestic and the international level. While his exploits in T20 cricket are well known, a shadow of a doubt hangs over Raina’s ability to roll back the years, as he has not played international cricket for the last nine months due to injury.
However, skipper Kohli believes that the 30-year-old still has a lot to offer to Team India.
“I certainly feel that he still has a lot to offer for Indian cricket, especially in the shorter formats,” said Kohli, ahead of the Kanpur T20I.
Raina’s ability to score the quick runs and also bowl some economical overs can come in handy for India.