In the third match of the ongoing five-match T20I series between India and England, stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss for the third consecutive time and elected to bowl first at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot. The decision came as no surprise, given the reputation of the Rajkot pitch for being batting-friendly and consistent throughout the match.
One notable change in India’s playing XI was the absence of left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who has been rested for the game. In his place, seasoned fast bowler Mohammed Shami made a return to the T20I side after a gap of 14 months. Shami’s inclusion adds experience to India’s bowling attack, which will aim to contain a strong English batting lineup.
Explaining the decision at the toss, Suryakumar Yadav said, “The pitch looks good and hard, and it’s expected to remain consistent. Rajkot has always been a high-scoring ground. Tilak Varma impressed us in the last match, and we’re treating this as a fresh three-match series from here on. Mohammed Shami comes in for Arshdeep Singh, who has been rested.”
England captain Jos Buttler, who would have also preferred to chase, acknowledged the challenge ahead. “We would have bowled first as well. The wicket looks good, and the boys had a solid practice session. We need to bring our best to win this game. India are a strong side, and we have to improve to put them under pressure,” Buttler stated.
Teams:
England (Playing XI): Philip Salt, Ben Duckett, Jos Buttler(c), Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Smith(w), Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood
India (Playing XI): Sanju Samson(w), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Dhruv Jurel, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakravarthy
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