IND vs ENG, 1st T20I:Â Although Team India suffered a shocking series defeat to Ireland, three months after their second T20 World Cup victory, there is hardly any time for them to lick their wounds, given a challenge against England awaits. With the first of the five T20Is against England set to kickstart on July 1, Wednesday at the Chester-le-Street, the biggest question revolving around the playing XI is whether or not Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will finally get an opportunity.
Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Play in IND vs ENG 1st T20I?
While the 15-year-old has been seen batting in the nets and facing world-class bowlers like Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh, there is no clear indication of him featuring in the XI. With the left-hander not earning a debut in any of the T20Is against Ireland, it sparked backlash among the fans, especially due to the Irishmen registering a stunning 0-2 whitewash over the reigning World T20 champions. With Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma also struggling against Ireland, this could be the best time to hand the youngster his maiden international cap.
Shreyas Iyer Eyes First Victory as India Captain
Having replaced Suryakumar Yadav on the back of a glorious run as a captain in the IPL, Shreyas Iyer has found the going tough. The 31-year-old was expected to start his captaincy stint with a 2-0 series win over Ireland but Lorcan Tucker and co. turned the tables over in a stunning way to sweep Team India, sending alarms ahead of the series against England. With England a much more formidable opposition, Iyer has no time to lick his wounds but must bring together his players to turn things around.
Another straight series defeat will be detrimental to the Mumbai-born cricketer’s long-term captaincy prospects.
India’s Probable Playing XI for IND vs ENG 1st T20I
While it remains to be seen whether or not Sooryavanshi gets an opportunity, Varun Chakravarthy’s return will be a big boost for the tourists. The leggie’s presence means the Men in Blue have a reliable wicket-taker for the middle overs.
India predicted XI: Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy.
