The world number 1 and 2 ranked T20 teams India and England will step onto the field on Saturday to battle it out in the 2nd T20I of the high-octane three-match series between the two cricketing giants. India outclassed the 2019 World Cup champions England in the first T20I in what can be called a one-sided contest.
The Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma, showcased a complete performance despite missing some of their key players in the first game. Batting first, Indian batters played with intent and put up 198 in their quota of 20 overs. IPL-winning captain Hardik Pandya led the charge with the bat as the all-rounder notched up his maiden T20I fifty.
Rohit Sharma, Deepak Hooda, and Suryakumar Yadav also put in a valuable contribution as India gave a massive target to the Englishmen. For England, right-arm pacer Chris Jordan was their most impressive bowler as he finished with 2 wickets for 23 runs in his spell.
England’s chase was completely derailed by India’s veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar who displayed the exceptional skill of swing bowling in the first over. Bhuvneshwar sent the English skipper Jos Buttler packing for a golden duck in his first game as England’s new full-time white-ball skipper.
Then it was a Hardik Pandya show as the all-rounder delivered his career-best figures of 4 for 33 in his four overs. Pandya broke the back of the English batting lineup. As a result, England was always playing the catch-up game. English batters Moeen Ali and Harry Brook tried their best to bring their team back into the game but it was too late. In the end, England was bowled out for 148 and India recorded a comfortable win by 50 runs.
Fun Fact: Rohit Sharma is the first captain in World cricket to win 13 consecutive T20Is as a skipper and India is yet to lose a match under the captaincy of Rohit after he became a full-time captain.
India’s dominating win has booked them as favourites coming into the second T20 as they are priced at 1.85 with bookmaker 888sport. England is a close underdog priced at 1.95.
India vs England Second T20I Winner odds
※ Current Odds Date & Time: July 8, 7:00 a.m. (GMT)
The second T20I will be played at Edgbaston in Birmingham at 1:30 p.m. (GMT). Edgbaston has not been a happy hunting ground for the Indians. Just a few days ago they lost the fifth Test as the Indian bowlers failed to defend 378 in the fourth innings, handing England a historic win.
India’s senior players Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja are available for the second T20I. It would be interesting to see if the Indian management changes the winning combination of the team and who will make way for these veterans in the playing XI. On the other hand, England is likely to field the same playing XI as they have rested their main players like Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes for this series.
The contest between India and England always keeps the world on their toes as they are undoubtedly two of the strongest teams in cricket today. So it would not be a surprise to expect a thrilling contest in the second T20 as England will be fighting to save the series while India is aiming for their fourth successive T20I series win over their arch-rivals.
