After a thrilling and interesting npower Test series which has shuffled the International cricket rankings, India and England are going to play the one-off T20I on August 31 at Manchester. This will be a match between the two ICC T20 World Champions.
The Indians will have an edge in the game as they are used to the limited-over format after playing four lengthy season of their home T20 tournament, the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Stuart Broad, the newly appointed skipper of England’s T20 wing and the top wicket taker of the just-concluded Test series is padded up to undertake his first big task.
The 4-match Test series is likely to have deep effects on the 20-over game which the English will play with profuse confidence, while the Indians are to fight with shattered morals.
However, one thing will in India’s favour i.e., their star-studded batting line-up which is capable of turning the tables, especially in shorter versions.
Here we take a look on the Indian batting rock-stars who are likely to make impact with the bat in the coming match.
Sachin Tendulkar
He is world’s top scorer with most centuries in both Test and ODI formats of the game. The Indians consider him the ‘God of Cricket’ and worship him like one.
The 38-year-old top-order batsman has always been impressive since the start of his International career, spanning over almost two decades.
Sachin leads the Mumbai Indians, his home team, in the prestigious IPL tournaments. In his 60 domestic T20 games, he has scored 2069 runs with the help of 1 century and 13 fifties. He made his T20I debut in 2006 against South Africa.
The Master Blaster performed well during the Test series but, unfortunately, could not complete his 100thInternational ton and save his side from defeat. He is likely to shine on the 31st of August and steer his side to take a sigh of relief from a streak of failures.
Rahul Dravid
For his solid and strong batting techniques, he is termed as The Wall in the world of cricket. He poses to be the third highest scorer in Test cricket.
The coming match will be first and last T20I of the legend as he has already announced retirement from the 20-over and 50-over formats of cricket after playing the current series.
However, the right hander has played 66 T20s at the domestic level for the two IPL sides, Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
The 38-year–old batsman has had a long International career, stretching over one and a half decade. He has 47 International centuries to his name.
From the recent Test series, he emerged as ‘Man of the Series’ with two tons, which went in vain as his team lost badly.
Now, the legend is expected to deliver a thumping performance in his life’s only T20I game.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni
He is perhaps the most successful Indian skipper as he has brought home an ICC Cricket World Cup and an ICC World T20 title as a team leader.
The wicketkeeper batsman has mastery over the limited-over versions of the game as he has led Chennai Super Kings to claim two back-to-back IPL titles.
His experience behind the stumps helps him out to play comfortably and confidently when he is before the stumps.
The right hander has 26 T20Is to his credit. Apart from this, he has played 95 T20 games at the domestic level and scored 2090 runs.
The coming one-off T20I game will be a big challenge for him as he is being expected to take the team back on the winning track. Thus, he has to shoulder two responsibilities at the same time.
Last Word
The above-mentioned batsmen form the batting mainstay of Team India. If the trio performs well, the Blue Shirts will surely be able to walk away with the victory. They must apply the techniques and skills, that they have gained from the IPL, in this match and take their side to taste the first success on the English soil.
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