IND vs ENG 1st T20 LIVE: With Rahul Dravid not available for the India vs England first T20, VVS Laxman will take over the temporary role as India head coach. The latter has to take some important calls in the pace department, especially to pick one among Umran Malik, Avesh Khan and Arshdeep Singh in the India playing XI. Follow INDIA vs ENGLAND T20 Series LIVE Updates with InsideSport.IN.
With the Test team players not featuring in the first T20, India will not be at full strength. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is going to lead the bowling line-up alongside Harshal Patel. The third regular pacer slot is wide open although all-rounder Hardik Pandya will also form the core of the bowling unit.
Umran Malik could be the best bet for the first T20I as the third pacer. He has done well in IPL 2022. He has the pace to trouble big England batters. With the T20 World Cup scheduled in Australia, it could be a perfect time to test the bowler from Jammu and Kashmir and gradually prepare him for the big-ticket event.
However, pace alone cannot be a single criterion to field him in the playing XI. If it is, Avesh Khan also bowls at a decent pace. He also bowls at the death and has been a successful bowler in the IPL. He can generate awkward bounce from his tall frame as well.
IND vs ENG 1st T20 LIVE: No Rahul Dravid in 1st T20, VVS Laxman has to pick one among Umran Malik, Avesh Khan & Arshdeep Singh in Southampton: Check OUT
In fact, all three players, including Arshdeep Singh have it in them to bowl at the death. It is an important requisite for a pacer in the shorter format. Arshdeep has also made a good case for his selection, scalping four wickets in the recently concluded warm up matches in England.
Irrespective of who Laxman decides to pick, the bowler is not going to have an easy time. England are one of the most dominant sides in the shorter format. With batters like Jos Buttler, Liam Livingstone and Jason Roy, they can make life difficult for the Indian bowlers in the first match of the series.
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