Focus on Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson’s Form in Dead Rubber
With the series already secured, India will look to fine-tune their batting concerns as they face England in the fifth and final T20I at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. While the match holds no impact on the series outcome, England will be eager to salvage some pride, especially after their frustration over the concussion substitute controversy in the previous game.
The fourth T20I in Pune saw India clinch a 15-run victory, securing an unassailable 3-1 lead. However, England was left aggrieved by the approval of Harshit Rana as a concussion substitute for Shivam Dube, who suffered a blow to the head while batting. Rana’s impactful debut, returning figures of 3/33, played a key role in stalling England’s chase.
England Unhappy Over Concussion Substitution Decision
England captain Jos Buttler expressed surprise at the substitution, questioning why India was allowed to bring in Rana instead of a more like-for-like replacement such as Ramandeep Singh. Despite the protest, the decision was approved by ICC match referee Javagal Srinath at halftime.
Despite England’s disappointment, their batting collapse contributed significantly to their downfall. Chasing 182, they were well-placed at 65/1 in the seventh over but lost wickets in quick succession to Indian spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi. Chakravarthy, in particular, has been a standout performer, taking 12 wickets in the series.
India’s Batting Concerns Persist
Although India has sealed the series, concerns remain over the form of key batters, particularly Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson.
Samson, who skipped the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Kerala, has struggled for rhythm against England’s express pacers Mark Wood and Jofra Archer. With just 35 runs in four games, his lean patch has been a concern. However, India may not tweak their opening combination, as their aggressive batting approach remains a core principle of their T20 strategy.
Suryakumar, ranked No. 4 in the world, has also failed to make an impact since his 75 against Bangladesh eight matches ago. His returns in this series include two ducks and low scores of 12 and 14. Returning to his home ground at Wankhede, he will be determined to rediscover his form in front of his home crowd.
Meanwhile, Rinku Singh’s composed 30 in the previous match provided some reassurance about his form, while all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube played crucial roles with their fifties.
India May Rotate Pacers, England Look to End on a High
With a wealth of options in the bowling department, India might consider resting frontline pacers Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Shami. However, the match presents another opportunity for Shami, who is making a comeback from a prolonged injury layoff, to test his fitness.
For England, the series has been largely disappointing, with their batting failing to fire consistently. Harry Brook finally found some form with a solid knock in the last game, but his struggles against spin, particularly Chakravarthy, continue. Youngsters Jacob Bethell and Jamie Smith have also faced difficulties on their first tour of India.
As the two teams prepare for the final showdown, India will look to end the series on a high, while England will be desperate to finish with a consolation win.
Squads
India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami, Dhruv Jurel, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana.
England: Jos Buttler (captain), Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Smith, Adil Rashid, Brydon Carse, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Jacob Bethell, Saqib Mahmood.
Match Timing: 7:00 PM IST
