IND vs ENG Playing 11, 3rd T20I: India vs England Probable Playing XI, Preview, Weather & Pitch Report

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As the cricketing world turns its gaze to Rajkot, anticipation builds for the third T20 International between India and England on Tuesday, 28 January 2025. With India leading the five-match series 2-0, this encounter at the Niranjan Shah Stadium is pivotal for both teams. A victory for the hosts would seal the series, while England faces a must-win scenario to keep their hopes alive.

The previous matches have been a testament to the thrilling nature of T20 cricket. India clinched the first game in Kolkata with a seven-wicket triumph, followed by a nail-biting two-wicket win in Chennai. England, under the leadership of Jos Buttler, has shown resilience but has fallen short in critical moments. The Rajkot fixture offers them a chance at redemption.

IND vs ENG 3rd T20I Match Information:

• Date: Tuesday, 28 January 2025
• Time: 7:00 PM IST
• Venue: Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot

Weather & Pitch Report:

The weather in Rajkot is expected to be clear, with temperatures ranging from a high of 34°C during the day to a low of 15°C in the evening. Such conditions are typical for this time of year, and no rain is forecasted, ensuring an uninterrupted game.

The pitch at the Niranjan Shah Stadium is renowned for being batting-friendly, with an average first-innings score of 189. Batsmen from both sides will be eager to capitalise on these conditions, while bowlers might face a challenging outing.

Team Previews:

India:

The hosts have displayed a balanced performance in the series so far. Tilak Varma's stellar 72-run knock in Chennai was instrumental in securing the win. Opener Abhishek Sharma, after a brilliant start in the first match, will be keen to make amends for his early dismissal in the second.

Spinner Varun Chakravarthy has been a standout with the ball, claiming five wickets across the two games. Captain Suryakumar Yadav will look to lead from the front, aiming to maintain the team's winning momentum.

England:

England's campaign has been spearheaded by Jos Buttler, who has amassed 113 runs in the series. However, the middle order has struggled to provide adequate support. The team will be looking towards Harry Brook and Phil Salt to bolster the batting lineup.

On the bowling front, the pace duo of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood have shown glimpses of brilliance but have lacked consistency. The Rajkot pitch might offer them the opportunity to exploit their pace and bounce.

India vs England Probable Playing XI:

India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Ramandeep Singh, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy

England: Philip Salt (wk), Ben Duckett, Jos Buttler (c), Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

Injury Update:

India's Rinku Singh is sidelined due to a back spasm, paving the way for Axar Patel to potentially move up the batting order. Dhruv Jurel's underwhelming performance in Chennai might lead to his replacement by either Shivam Dube or Ramandeep Singh.

England will probably retain the same XI from the previous match, with Brydon Carse maintaining his spot after an impressive performance.

Full Squads:

India: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Nitish Reddy, Mohd Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Harisht Rana, Dhruv Jurel, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakrabarthy and Washington Sundar

England: Jos Buttler (C), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood