The Indian cricket team has taken an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five T20 match series against England. With the series already won, the fifth and final match, to be played at the historic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, is largely a formality. This presents an opportunity for captain Suryakumar Yadav and the team management to experiment with their bench strength, giving players who have not had a chance to play in the series yet a chance to showcase their skills.
Some players who could be given a chance to open the batting are Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma. Sanju Samson has had a quiet series so far, scoring only 35 runs in four matches, and will be looking to make an impact in the final game. Abhishek Sharma, on the other hand, scored a half-century in the first T20 match and has shown promise, but has not been able to convert his starts into big innings. Captain Suryakumar Yadav may choose to trust these two players and give them a chance to open the batting, with Sanju Samson potentially taking on wicketkeeping duties.
At number three, Tilak Verma has shown his ability to score runs, and captain Suryakumar Yadav may choose to bat at number four. Suryakumar Yadav has been struggling with form lately and will be looking to spend time at the crease and get back into rhythm. Hardik Pandya and Rinku Singh, who both batted well in the fourth T20 match, could also be included in the playing XI.
In the bowling department, Arshdeep Singh may be given the responsibility of leading the fast bowling attack. Ramandeep Singh, who has not played in the series yet, could be included as an all-rounder, while vice-captain Akshar Patel may also get a chance due to his ability to contribute with both bat and ball. The spin department could be handled by Varun Chakraborty and Ravi Bishnoi, who have both performed well in the series so far.
The Indian team’s possible playing XI for the fifth T20 match could be: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Verma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Akshar Patel, Varun Chakraborty, Ravi Bishnoi, and Arshdeep Singh.
