India after winning the first T20 against England at Pune will take on the visitors in the second match in Mumbai here today.
Indian team played some very good cricket to win the Pune T20. The team did well to stop England when they were looking good to post somewhere around 200. The Indian batsmen made a mockery of the target and looked in great touch.
This series is very important to the hosts as they are coming on the back off an embarrassing Test series defeat and it is important that they have some wins against their name.
England will be looking to win the match and even the series. It is a young England team, missing their Test stars and they will be hoping to follow the footsteps of their Test team.
Let’s have a look at some of the players who can make the difference in today’s match:
India:
Yuvraj Singh: Yuvraj who is always considered as a threat in this format of the game lived up to his reputation in the first T20. He was responsible for England’s abysmal fall in the middle over. England were cruising at one point of time but it was his fine spell of spin bowling that pegged them back. He took three wickets by giving away just 19 runs. While batting, he came when India lost two quick wickets and took command of the situation. He scored a quick-fire 39 off 21 balls including two fours and three sixes. He will once again be very crucial for India with both bat and ball.
Suresh Raina: Raina played a very good innings in the last T20 and ensured that the team reaches the target with overs to spare. He looked in good touch and played some cracking shots. He is a genuine match-winner in this format and England will have to find an answer for him.
Ashoke Dinda: Dinda was very good with the ball in Pune and was very economical at a time when England batsmen were on a rampage mode. He took two wickets by giving away 18 runs in three overs. He will once again lead the attack. Dinda likes bowling in death overs and that makes him an important member of the team.
R Ashwin: T20 cricket is Ashwin’s forte. His variation comes handy in the shortest format and he is more suited for this kind of cricket. He bowled three good overs in the last match and was expensive in one. He might share the new ball with Dinda again.
England:
Alex Hales: Hales was in menacing form and scored the only half-century of the match. He scored 56 off 35 balls and hit seven boundaries and couple of sixes. He cleared the boundary with ease and England were looking good till the time he was on the crease. His captain will be hoping for him to repeat his feat.
Luke Wright: Wright played a perfect fiddle to Hales and was involved in a second wicket partnership. He scored 34 off 21 deliveries laced with three four and a six. He was very good for England in the ICC T20 World Cup as well. He is very good with the ball and can bowl at brisk pace.
Jade Dernbach: He is England’s T20 specialist. Dernbach was very expensive in the previous match and he will be hoping for a much improved show here. Dernbach has a lot of variations and will lead the attack. He enjoys bowling in the death overs and has the ability to produce some good slower deliveries and Yorkers.
Samit Patel: Patel will play the role of an all-rounder for the team. He plays spinners well and can hit them for boundaries. His left-arm spin can also come in handy in the middle overs.
By Indian Sports News Network