India vs England: India's Predicted XI For the First T20I

The Indian team cruised to a series victory against Ireland, and most players performed well - this squad depth will hold India in good stead. Conversely, the fact that most players played well means that the management now has more than a few selection headaches, and one way or another, they will have to leave out some quality players from the playing XI.

Further, while selecting the team, the management will also have to consider the long-term implications of their decisions with them needing to narrow down on the shortlist of players for the World Cup.

This is the last or the second-last overseas limited overs series before the World Cup squad is announced, and this means that any player that does not get an opportunity on this tour, is most probably not in the selectors' plans for the big tournament next year.

This slideshow looks at India's probable XI for the first T20 international against England.

---

Openers: Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan

In spite of the fact that India opened with KL Rahul and Virat Kohli in the second T20 against Ireland, chances are that they will go back to the trusted pair of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan for the T20s against Ireland.

Granted, KL Rahul has been in imperious form off-late and there will be critics that will make a case for his inclusion in the side; however, the management has shown a clear proclivity in this regard: if Rahul is to be a permanent fixture in the limited overs sides, then he needs to make a place for himself in the middle-order.

Sharma and Dhawan enjoy batting together in England as well, with them having two extremely successful champions trophies at the top of the order together. Further, with Dhawan continuing with his purple patch in the first T20, and with Sharma nearly getting a century in the same match, there seem to be no form issues with either of India's first-choice openers.

Middle-order: KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, and Suresh Raina

KL Rahul has shown that he is a special player and way too good to not be playing all three formats of the game for India. With the opening slots being occupied by Sharma and Dhawan, India may decide to do what their opponents England have done with their three openers and play Rahul in the middle order. Having had a very productive season playing in the middle order for RCB in 2016, Rahul certainly is versatile enough to do so.

Virat Kohli picks himself in the team; however, what position he bats at will be interesting to see. With T20 cricket being as dynamic as it is, it is possible that these three batsmen will rotate their positions on the basis of the situation.

The last player in the middle-order, Suresh Raina, should also be in the side given his form in the second T20 against Ireland. He looks as if he is back at his best, hitting balls to the boundary with ease. He also has the ability to provide the Indian innings with the impetus that it has so often lacked in the middle overs in recent times. Further, he is a 3-in-1 cricketer, as he is a livewire in the field, and can provide his captain with some overs of handy off-spin as well, a skill which will be integral in an Indian side playing only five bowlers.

Lower-middle order: MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya

The part of this team sheet that is the easiest to pick, the lower middle order comprises of the wicketkeeper MS Dhoni and the explosive seam-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya.

Dhoni was back at his explosive best in the IPL, and in what may possibly be his last ever T20 series, he will be looking to replicate that form and kick-start India's limited overs leg of England on a good note.

The seam-bowling all-rounder is said to be an essential part of any team that performs well in English conditions, and it is with this thinking of overseas conditions that the management of the Indian team has persisted with Hardik Pandya for so long. It is time that he repays this faith and contributes in all three departments: with the bat, with the ball, and in the field.

He has shown the ability to do it in the past, and if he can combine that natural ability of his with the consistency that has seemed to somewhat elude him, it will give India their best chance of doing well in England.

Bowlers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal

The pace bowling duo of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav picks itself in the squad, with Jasprit Bumrah out injured. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, with his ability to bowl up front and at the death, has transformed himself into the spearhead of this Indian bowling attack in the limited overs formats.

With Jasprit Bumrah out of the T20 and ODI matches, Umesh Yadav will get more opportunities to further stake a claim for a spot in the limited overs side. Even though he has the tendency of going for runs, Umesh Yadav has shown himself to be a cricket wicket-taking option, particularly with the new ball.

He was sensational in this year's edition of the IPL - where he was especially lethal in the powerplay - and he will be looking to carry on this newfound T20 form.

As many have pointed out, there is no team in world cricket right now that has been able to decode the 'spin twins' and actually play them well. They have shown that they have the ability to take wickets not only in home conditions but also in overseas conditions, as we saw on the tour to South Africa and in the matches against Ireland.

However, despite the fact that they have left the entire cricket fraternity in awe, the spin twins have the propensity of being hammered around on occasion, and against arguably the most explosive batting side in the world, they will be seriously tested.