India Playing XI for 5th T20 – Ind vs Eng Series Decider: A narrow 8-run victory in the 4th T20I ensured India remained in the hunt for the T20I series title against England in the ongoing 5-match series. With the series decider slated for Saturday, Virat Kohli and the Indian think tank are unlikely to make any changes in the line-up. Suryakumar Yadav, Rahul Chahar both will retain their places in the XI. This also means despite of 4 failures now KL Rahul will play and Ishan Kishan will again sit-out.
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Ind vs Eng 5th T20 – SuryaKumar Yadav to continue in the line-up: Suryakumar Yadav, fresh off a fantastic 31-ball 57-run knock in his T20I batting debut, will retain his place while Rahul Chahar too is all set to keep his place ahead of Yuzvendra Chahal.
Ind vs Eng 5th T20 – KL Rahul or Ishan Kishan in Indian Playing XI? If at all anyone’s place in the playing XI for the 5th T20 will be debated in the team meeting i.e of KL Rahul. Despite of 4 failures, Indian team management is unlikely to drop Rahul from the XI. This means Ishan Kishan will again have to be benched.
Kishan made a brilliant debut – but failed in 3rd T20 and was benched ‘because of niggle in the 4th T20 against England’. It is unlikely that captain Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri will give a chance to Kishan ahead of Rahul.
This means Rahul-Rohit duo will open for India once again in the 5th T20 with both yet to score anything meaningful in the series.
Ind vs Eng 5th T20 – Is all ok with Virat Kohli? Despite limping off in the death overs of the 4th T20I, Kohli is likely to play in the final match of the series. He has been in good form and his contribution and leadership will be important for India in the series decider.
Suryakumar Yadav: After a sensational batting debut, dropping SKY would be nothing less than a criminal offence and thus the team management is likely to keep him in the Playing XI. That means Ishan Kishan is likely to miss out after being dropped due to a niggle in the last match.
Shreyas Iyer: India’s strength in the middle-order is mostly due to Shreyas Iyer’s batting. His 18-ball 37 helped India post a competitive total against England in the 4th T20I and he is expected to retain his place.
Rishabh Pant: Yet to mesmerize in the series like he usually does but he is now India’s trusted wicket-keeper batsman. He has done decently in the series so far with scores of 21, 26, 25 and 30. Hence, other than any last-minute injury, he is not expected to be dropped.
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Washington Sundar: Spinners haven’t been successful in the series so far and the same goes for Washington Sundar, the bowler. While he was successful in the 3rd T20I, on Thursday, he had a hard time against Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow. But with India needing batting depth, he is expected to retain his place in the Playing XI.
Hardik Pandya: The flamboyant all-rounder is India’s third seamer who can get the breakthroughs. On Thursday, he was India’s most successful bowler after Shardul Thakur with 2/16 in his four overs. As his batting skills could win India the matches, he will be one of the first names in the Playing XI if he does not face any last-minute injury.
Rahul Chahar: Brought in to replace an out-of-form Yuzvendra Chahal, Rahul Chahar did decently, getting India the wickets and wasn’t too expensive on a pitch that could be compared to batting heaven. His 2/35 included two important wickets of Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow and that will give the youngster a lot of confidence going forward while Chahal gets his act right.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar: After returning from an injury, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has done okay with the ball. While he hasn’t got many wickets, he is in the plans for the T20 World Cup and hence Virat Kohli will need to give him as many overs as he could get to reach his best level.
Shardul Thakur: After his wicket-laden bowling in the death overs against England in the 4th T20I, he is unlikely to lose his place. He returned with 3/42 in his four overs. While he was expensive, the wickets will help him retain his place ahead of Navdeep Saini, who has passed his fitness test.
Ind vs Eng 5th T20 – InsideSport Likely Playing XI
1. Rohit Sharma, 2. KL Rahul, 3. Virat Kohli (C), 4. Suryakumar Yadav, 5. Shreyas Iyer, 6. Rishabh Pant, 7. Hardik Pandya, 8. Washington Sundar, 9. Shardul Thakur, 10. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 11. Rahul Chahar.
Editors pick
