The men in blue is all set to switch its gears to the shortest format as they are taking on England in the three-match Twenty20 International (T20I) cricket series, starting with the first game at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur on January 26. The live cricket streaming of the match is available on Hotstar, while the live telecast of the match is available on Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 1 HD, along with Hindi commentary on Star Sports 3 and Star Sports 3 HD.
Having pocketed the One-Day International (ODI) series 2-1, the Virat Kohli-led hosts will be aiming to make the most of their limited overs experience, as the T20I rubber is the last before the International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy from June 1.
In the first T20 game of the T20I series between India and England, India, after being asked to bat first, scored 147 runs and set a target of 148 for the English opponents to chase. CLICK HERE FOR THE LIVE SCORE UPDATES
England have won the toss and they will field first. @ImParveezRasool makes his T20I debut #TeamIndia #INDvENG @Paytm pic.twitter.com/ALdzCEsJ4a
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 26, 2017
Here are the playing XI for team India
#TeamIndia for the 1st T20I against England in Kanpur #INDvENG @paytm pic.twitter.com/I8bYYj1qGS
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 26, 2017
Virat Kohli’s first reaction on receiving Padma Shri
All eyes will be on the likes of seasoned campaigners Suresh Raina and Ashish Nehra — making a comeback after almost a year’s lay-off.
Follow today’s #INDvENG action
https://t.co/CPALMFZaWL
@StarSportsIndia
⌚ 4:30 pm IST #RepublicDay pic.twitter.com/6NKRU4yb5d— BCCI (@BCCI) January 26, 2017
Promising spinner from Jammu and Kashmir gets his debut T20 cap.
Proud moment for @ImParveezRasool as he gets his T20I India cap on #RepublicDay #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/Ac44QBryKW
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 26, 2017
This T20I series will also provide players, including the 30-year-old Raina and 37-year-old Nehra, a great opportunity to stake their claim for a berth in the 50-over side.
Both Nehra and Raina have been out of the national side since the ICC World T20 in March last year and will be eyeing the upcoming T20Is against England to stage a comeback.
#TeamIndia‘s warhorse Ashish Nehra gives some death overs practice to @im_manishpandey #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/Picw09Dz1u
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 25, 2017
Besides the duo, the series will also be a test for the likes of promising batsmen Rishabh Pant, Mandeep Singh and Manish Pandey and the spin duo of Parvez Rasool and Yuzvendra Chahal.
Proud moment for @ImParveezRasool as he gets his T20I India cap on #RepublicDay #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/Ac44QBryKW
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 26, 2017
Going into Thursday’s match, which will begin at 4.30 PM instead of the regular 7.30 p.m. start due to the prevailing dew and foggy conditions, the importance of the toss will be negated.
India will hope to end their opening woes and try a new combination with Lokesh Rahul and Pant at the top followed by the settled middle order comprising Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, wicketkeeper-batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Raina.
#TeamIndia members @imVkohli @msdhoni @ImRaina @MishiAmit are out on the field at Green Park Stadium, Kanpur #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/Z4FlsoSOIq
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 25, 2017
If Kohli opts for a seventh batsman, it will be a toss up between Manish and Mandeep in the middle order with all-rounder Hardik Pandya adding spice lower down the order.
#TeamIndia all-rounder @hardikpandya7 is all set and raring to go for the 1st @Paytm T20I against England #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/tLHSCZgezz
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 25, 2017
The bowling department will have the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Pandya apart from Nehra while Bhuvneshwar Kumar may get a look-in depending on the conditions.
Leg-spinner Amit Mishra is most certainly to get a look-in ahead of Chahal with Jammu and Kashmir off-spinner Rasool.
On the other hand, England, after pipping India by five runs in the third ODI and avoiding a whitewash, will be aiming to finish their dismal tour on a winning note. The visitors had earlier lost the five-match Test rubber 0-4.
The visitors have added more firepower in their bowling with the addition of right-armer Chris Jordan and left-arm quick Tymal Mills.
The English side will once again bank on their top order, comprising the likes of Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan and Moeen Ali to post a competitive total on the board.
All-rounder Ben Stokes has been a revelation with both the bat and the ball in the ODIs and England will hope he repeats his feats in the shortest version.
In the bowling department, leg spinner Adil Rashid and Ali will be Morgan’s go-to bowlers in the middle overs while Liam Plunkett, Jake Ball will be the first choice pacers apart from Jordan and Mills.
Squads:
India: Virat Kohli (Captain), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), Yuvraj Singh, Lokesh Rahul, Suresh Raina, Mandeep Singh, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant, Parvez Rasool, Yuzvendra Chahal, Amit Mishra, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ashish Nehra
England: Eoin Morgan (Captain), Moeen Ali, Jake Ball, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler (wk), Liam Dawson, Liam Plunkett, Joe Root, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Tymal Mills, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey.
