India vs England : Built up to the do-or-die series of the tour.
India is playing in an Ashes like multi-format series for the first time with a total 16 points up for grabs (four points for Test, two each for total six ODI and T20s). Currently England is ahead with six points to India’s four. If England manages two wins, they clinch the series. India needs a 2-1 or 3-0 result to level or win the series respectively. It is apparent that both the teams have a lot to play for and they would want their best possible combination to take the field for the very first T20I happening on 9th July, 11 pm IST.
It has been an exciting summer for the Indian cricket fans. With the ups and downs and roller coaster rides of the one-off test and the ODI series, it had been an eventful one month. We have seen India clinching a draw from the jaws of defeat in the one-off test, with some amazing grit and determination shown by a team full of debutants, and we have also witnessed a stunning comeback in the last match of the ODI series.
After all the batting collapses, amazing diving catches, keeping masterclasses, and Mithali’s Raj we finally arrived at the last leg of the tour – The T20I series.
There is a lot to look forward to and a lot to decide. Let’s have a look.
Eyes on Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues : Will they change the narrative?
A lot has been said about the T20I captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s recent lack of form in the ODI series. This T20I series will be a golden chance for the ODI Vice captain to turnaround the narrative. Whereas it seems to be a do or die situation for the youngster Jemimah. One of the most promising young talent, Jemimah’s lack of form has been a concern since the South Africa series.
In the recently concluded ODI series vs England too, we saw that she was unable to turn it around as she scored 8 and 4 in the two matches she played. If Jemimah gets a game in the 20 over format, there will surely be a whole lot of pressure on her to prove herself. It would be interesting to see how these two turn the tables and get back in the run tally!
What can be India’s ideal batting line up?
While we have our opening pair confirmed in Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, the rest of the batting line up is still unclear. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur is almost certain to come at no. four but, there are still lots of decisions to be made for the rest of the spots.
Harleen Deol, the young all-rounder from Chandigarh, who was included in the playing 11 as a replacement of injured Kaur in the recently concluded South Africa series, did put up an impressive show with both bat and ball in the said series. She scored 87 runs with an average of 43.5 and picked up 2 wickets. With Kaur back in the side, it will be a difficult decision for the team management to drop Deol. That puts Jemimah Rodrigues’ place in the team under scanner. While the 20-year-old youngster is not in the best of her forms in recent times, but she has been an integral part of India’s T20 side since her debut.
Sneh Rana’s outstanding run in the Test and ODI series, has made her a strong contender for the playing X1, but with Deepti Sharma, a consistent performer for the side, it will be interesting to see in which role the team management fits her into.
With such dynamic players in the unit, picking an ideal batting line-up would be challenging for Team India.
Bowling choices : Who will make the cut?
With Rajeswari Gayakwad being out of the series, it will be interesting to see, whether it will it be a comeback for India’s star performer of 2020 T20 world cup campaign, Poonam Yadav or management will stick to only one specialist spinner in Radha Yadav and include an extra seam option.
Arundhati Reddy and Simran Bahadur were regulars in the SA series. With Shikha Pandey and Pooja Vastrakar in the side, this will be another difficult choice for Team India.
India’s keeper dilemma
It might be tempting to throw the keeping gloves at Richa Ghosh, and include another all-rounder in the team to increase batting depth, but Richa’s wicket keeping skills remains a concern. Taniya Bhatia on the other hand has been outstanding this series, and was able to establish confidence in the bowling line up by standing up to the seamers, guiding the spinners and her skillful executions behind the stumps. Indrani Roy, the star of the domestic season, still waits for her first game in the tour.
All in all, the team selection will be challenging as India can not afford a mistake at this point in the series. Team India also faces the challenge to come out of the shadow of the batting collapses and infuse some confidence in the team.
This series will most likely be a test for the team management and the captain than the players. Making the right choice and playing to the strength of the players while also ensuring that the team dynamics and opposition/conditions are taken into consideration will be a challenging and interesting task for Team India.
Approaching Milestones:
- Jemimah needs 24 runs to complete 1000 T20I runs.
- Poonam Yadav 5 wickets away for 100 T20 wickets. She will be the first Indian player (women’s) to achieve the milestone.
- Harmanpreet Kaur is 178 away to be highest run scorer of India
Teams:
India:
Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh(WK), Harleen Deol, Sneh Rana, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Indrani Roy (wk), Shikha Pandey, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Poonam Yadav, Ekta Bisht, Radha Yadav, Simaran Dil Bahadur.
England:
Heather Knight(c), Nat Sciver(vc), Danni Wyatt ,Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Freya Davies, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones (wk), Anya Shrubsole, Mady Villiers, Fran Wilson.
~Poulami Das (Stats Analyst, Beyond the Matches)
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