The decider between India and England, the 5th T20I is all set to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Saturday, March 20. Both teams won two games each with India winning the previous one to set up the decider. The series has been closely contested so far with both teams giving it all to win their respective matches. With the T20 World Cup scheduled later this year, winning the series will be massive for either of these two teams. More about the 5th T20I preview in detail below.
The Indian openers have failed to give their team consistent starts in the series. Heading into the 5th T20I, this will be the biggest concern for the Indian team. KL Rahul has looked woefully out of form. After scoring in single digits in the first three games, he scored 14 in the last game. Despite his poor run, he has been given the long rope and looks good to play the fifth game as well. Rohit Sharma has not looked at his best after being rested for the first two games. A lot depends on him tonight and also Indian skipper Virat Kohli, who has hit back form.
Suryakumar Yadav hitting his maiden T20I fifty on his very second match, looks good to hold onto his place as well. Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer and Hardik Pandya becomes India’s firepower in the middle and is expected to explode in the 5th T20I, the decider.
All the bowlers who played the last game for India might play in the fifth game as well. While the first three games were won by the team chasing, India became the first out of the two teams to win a game defending their score.
Team Set To Lock Horns in 5th T20I, The Decider
England skipper Eoin Morgan said that the fourth game was the closest of all and they would like to play more suck games keeping in mind their preparations for the World T20 later this year. He has led his team beautifully and managed his players well. They had key players rising upto the occasion in all the four previous games. While Jason Roy has been consistent at the top-order, Jos Buttler won them the third game alone with his bat. When Buttler failed, it was Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes, who scored important runs with the bat.
Despite the failure, England looks a well-oiled machine with all their key players in form and looking forward to the decider. England have not lost a T20I ever since losing to India back home in 2018. India, on the other hand, have lost only twice in 19 T20I series deciders they have been part of.
Head To Head:
Overall- 18 matches
England won- 9
India won- 9
Pitch & Weather Conditions For 5th T20I
Dew played a massive role in the last game, despite India managing to defend their target. Chasing will be the trend as toss will play a key role in the end result of the game. The temperature is expected to be around the 30-33 degrees Celcius mark.
Team News For 5th T20I
KL Rahu’s extended lack of form with the bat might see him benched for the decider, despite Indian batting coach Vikram Rathour backing him to fire. Ishan Kishan might replace him at the top of the order. Barring him, no change is expected in the bowling line-up. Meanwhile, Indian skipper Virat Kohli who sat out for the last few overs with a strained thigh said that he will be fit in time for the final game.
England, despite losing the last game, should stick with the same side. This means that Moeen Ali will keep sitting on the sidelines unfortunately. England’s pacers despite the dew will be a force to reckon with. Dawid Malan has not hit form with the bat in the series. Sam Billings might replace him for the decider.
Squads For 5th T20I
India
Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vc), KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Navdeep Saini, Deepak Chahar, Rahul Tewatia, Ishan Kishan
England
Eoin Morgan (captain), Joss Buttler, Jason Roy, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, Reece Topley, Chris Jordan, Mark Wood, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Sam Billings, Jonny Bairstow, Jofra Archer
