England will be looking to put their test series loss behind them as they start their five match T20 series vs India today. The series promises to bring a lot of action with both teams ranked as the top two sides in the ICC T20 rankings.
Here’s five players to watch out for:
Rishabh Pant
There’s only one place to start. Pant’s has had a stellar 2021 so far in the game’s longest format, winning two man of the match awards and scoring a match winning hundred in the final test of the series against England.
The young wicket-keeper batsman has filled the cricketing world with excitement over his unorthodox shots and impressive scoring rate. However, despite a superb IPL record he is yet to prove himself in the international scene in the game’s shortest format.
The Rishabh Pant way to get to a 💯 after being dismissed twice in the 90s this year 🙌 #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/C9WSEHG7Ex
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 5, 2021
With the IPL just a month away and a T20 World Cup coming at the end of the year, this series is the perfect opportunity for Pant to announce himself in international T20s.
Jos Butler
What more can be said about Jos Butler? The batsman is considered by many to be England’s greatest ever white ball cricketer. With a thumping strike rate of 144, he’s got the rare talent of being able to smash the bowler from the moment he walks out to bat.
England will try to maximise his potential by giving him a new role as an opener alongside Jason Roy. This tactic could turn out to be an excellent decision for the world champions, as both Roy and Butler are known for their big hitting.
Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya has been a key part of India’s T20 set up since 2016 after impressing for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL. His career has been plagued by injuries, but his recent performances in Australia got him back to the level he belongs.
Most sixes in 20th over in IPL history
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) March 7, 2021
MS Dhoni – 49
Kieron Pollard – 27
Hardik Pandya – 23
Rohit Sharma – 23#IPL2021 #IPL #Cricket
The all-rounder had a brilliant IPL 2020 in the UAE and carried on his great form with the bat in the series against Australia, winning the man of the series award.
Pandya’s unique six hitting ability in the death overs will be key for the men in blue as they head into the T20 World Cup later this year.
Sam Curran
Sam Curran’s become a fan favourite ever since he burst onto the scene in 2018. The young all-rounder has become an integral part of the national side due to his knack for picking up wickets at any stage of the game, and being quite a handy batsman at the lower order.
Curran credited the IPL for his growth as a cricketer.
“I have said before, I definitely feel I came back as a much better player from IPL last year in Dubai as I did various roles for CSK, got challenged in many different ways which I really enjoyed and I think it has benefited my game” Curran said in a virtual press conference.
Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal’s wrist spin has made him captain Kohli’s go to man with the ball. The leggie has enjoyed his time in the T20 scene averaging over a wicket a game.
In Indian conditions, it will be the spinners who will be given the task of maintaining a reasonable economy rate in the middle overs and with England’s fire power in their batting line up, Chahal could end up being the hosts most influential bowler of the series.
