Skippers Surya’s form a concern as England eye a comeback in the third T20I
Rajkot: India, led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, will be aiming for a series-sealing win in the third T20 International against a struggling England on Tuesday.
After a prolonged lean spell, Suryakumar will be expected to return to his belligerent best. His own form has been disappointing in recent months, with the 34-year-old Mumbai batter managing only 429 runs in 17 innings last year, averaging 26.81. This was his least productive year since taking over as India’s T20I captain, following two highly successful years where his average was above 45.
Suryakumar’s struggles have been a notable subplot in the ongoing five-match series against England, where he has failed to make an impact so far. In the first two games, he perished attempting his signature pickup shot and was dismissed cheaply in the last match. Despite his lean patch, the team has continued to shine, with Tilak Varma’s individual brilliance leading India to victory in Chennai.
Apart from Suryakumar’s form, Sanju Samson has faced challenges against short-pitched deliveries, especially from Jofra Archer. However, India will look to make adjustments ahead of the match in Rajkot, where the pitch is expected to be conducive for runs. Both Suryakumar and Samson will be under pressure to deliver against a potent England attack, including Archer and Mark Wood, who have troubled the Indian batters.
In the absence of injured players Rinku Singh and Nitish Reddy, India could give opportunities to either Shivam Dube or Ramandeep Singh. Dube, known for his ability to counter spinners, may be called upon to handle Adil Rashid’s leg-spin. India’s bowling attack will once again rely on the versatile Arshdeep Singh, with Hardik Pandya providing crucial support. Spin duo Ravi Bishnoi and Varun Chakravarthy will continue to play key roles in the middle overs, having been instrumental in the previous two wins.
England, who need to win to stay alive in the series, will be hoping for a better batting performance. While Jos Buttler has been the standout performer, others have struggled, especially against spin. Archer, after a costly outing in Chennai, will look to provide early breakthroughs and keep the run flow in check, while Rashid remains a key threat in the middle overs.
Match starts @ 7 pm.
