England's men’s side face reigning T20 world champions India in the second match of a three-game series at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.
The opening game looked finely poised before the British weather had the final say. India posted 189-7 from their 20 overs, only for rain to force an abandonment before England's reply could begin.
With the forecast set fair in Manchester this weekend, there should be no weather interruptions and, at last, a chance to see England's batting line-up tested against Shreyas Iyer's new-look India side.
England v India Tips Summary
Best Bet - Abhishek Sharma most match sixes @ 7/2
Alternative Bet - Harry Brook England top batter @ 3/1
Bet Builder - Saqib Mahmood to take 2+ wickets, Highest opening partnership - England & Abhishek Sharma 2+ sixes @ 16/1
England v India Prediction
Best Bet: Abhishek Sharma most match sixes @ 7/2
Abhishek Sharma hit a stunning 59 off 24 deliveries in the first match of the series and the opener can continue where he left off in this contest.
His knock included four sixes, the most of the innings, and in doing so he became the fastest batter to reach 100 T20I sixes by deliveries faced, achieving the record in 789 deliveries.
Sharma's place at the top of the order looks secure, particularly with Sanju Samson enduring another disappointing innings.
Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi may be waiting in the wings, but it is Samson, rather than Sharma, who is under pressure.
One of the most destructive batters in world cricket, Sharma has the power to clear any boundary and attacks from the first ball. Backing him to hit the most sixes in the match appeals.
Alternative Bet - Harry Brook England top batter @ 3/1
England captain Harry Brook has admitted his desire to take on the test captaincy role following Ben Stokes' recent retirement and leading his team to victory over the world champions would be a fine audition.
The white-ball skipper has endured a difficult few months, but there is no questioning Brook's talent, which is why his lean run has attracted so much attention.
He remains the leading candidate to become England's all-format captain, although when Stokes missed the second Test against New Zealand, Joe Root was handed the captaincy ahead of the vice-captain.
This T20 series against India offers Brook the ideal opportunity to answer his critics, rediscover his best form with the bat and reinforce his leadership credentials.
Backing the England captain to lead from the front in Manchester looks an appealing option.
England v India Bet Builder Tip
Saqib Mahmood to take 2+ wickets
Highest opening partnership - England
Abhishek Sharma 2+ sixes
Pays 16/1
Sharma is in outstanding form at the top of India's order and is more than capable of clearing the ropes at Old Trafford on at least two occasions.
However, with Samson continuing to struggle alongside him, backing England's opening pair of Jos Buttler and Phil Salt to outscore their opposite numbers looks a strong pick.
Completing the treble is Saqib Mahmood to take two or more wickets. The seamer was England's standout bowler in the rain-hit opener, claiming 3-33 at Chester-le-Street despite one over costing 21 runs.
Jofra Archer is expected to return for England, most likely replacing Luke Wood, but Mahmood should retain the new ball alongside him.
He was England's biggest threat in the opener and can continue that run in this contest.
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Key Match Stats
India have won their last five T20I series against England
Harry Brook has scored 275 runs in his last 10 T20I innings at a strike rate of almost 170
Abhishek Sharma hit 59 from 24 balls last time out against England
England are unbeaten in their last five bilateral T20I series, with India the last team to beat them at home
Vaibhav Suryavanshi is expected to debut after scoring 776 IPL runs at a strike rate of 237.30 this season
Tactics, Form & Team News
England are expected to make changes to the side that took the field at Chester-le-Street. Archer is likely to come in for Wood, who failed to impress with the new ball in the opening match of the series.
There was an injury scare for the home side in that contest, with Salt spending time off the field during the India innings with a shoulder issue, but the opener is understood to be fit and should retain his role at the top of the order.
Expected England XI: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Harry Brook (c), Jacob Bethall, Tom Banton, Will Jacks, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Saqib Mahmood, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid.
On the whole India will be pleased with their batting display in Durham, however, question marks remain over the form of Sansom and the opener could see his spot in danger.
If India wish to make any changes to their team, it is likely to be at the top of the order and Sansom could be the one to miss out with teenage prodigy Suryavanshi waiting in the wings for his international debut.
Expected India XI: Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Harshit Rana, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy.
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
