India’s biggest concern in this game is the batting line-up. The top order was unable to cope with the favorable conditions in Ireland, with Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan and skipper Shreyas Iyer all struggling. Even though Abhishek Sharma showed his explosive 50 in the series, India will need more consistency from their senior batsmen against England’s attack.
There is still a lot of excitement about 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, but assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has said that the youngster will not run in the playing XI and will continue to be exempted from international cricket.
Currently, England has one of the strongest T20 squads in world cricket. Harry Brook leads a team full of match-winners, including Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, Will Jacks, Sam Curran and Adil Rashid. Their speed can be guaranteed in indoor conditions. Jofra Archer, Luke Wood, Saqib Mahmood and Sam Curran are expected to take advantage of the game on offer with the new ball, making the Indian batsmen their main target.
Pitch Report
The Riverside Ground usually has a fair amount of competition between bat and ball, but fast bowlers often enjoy the upper hand, especially in evening games where swing is available under the lights.
The position has produced an early lead of around 138 in T20Is, meaning batsmen will need to spend time at the crease before playing their shots. Teams that win the Powerplay battle can reap huge rewards.
India have the upper hand in T20Is between the two sides, winning 18 out of 30 matches, while England have won 12.
In England, the tournament was closely contested, with India only managing a 6-5 advantage, confirming the status of the tournament in English competitions.