Players to watch out for in India vs England T20Is

The upcoming T20 series provides India with a chance to acclimatize to the English conditions and gear up for the tougher challenges ahead. Although the T20Is and the ODIs are going to be played on placid tracks, the test series is to be played on the seaming and swinging conditions which are going to be the ultimate test of skill for the players. Players coming into the side after dealing with fitness issues and form concerns will look to contribute handsomely and get themselves going. On the flipside, the hosts England would look to start strong and gain an upper hand in the series. Although they have been performing well in the series versus Australia, they would certainly hope that they don't get overconfident and that instances like what happened against Scotland remains a rarity.

As it appears, the series is going to be an extremely competitive one. While England would like to extend their dominance in the shorter format at home, the Indian tigers would like to roar in the host's den and put their strength on display. All in all, fans should expect a nail-biting contest since currently, these are the teams that have been performing exceptionally well for the last two years.

Let us have a look at the players to watch out for in the series.

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#1. Virat Kohli

After losing a chance to play county cricket, courtesy a neck injury, he would like to make a statement early on in the series. Last time in 2014, when he toured the country, he managed to score 134 runs in 10 innings at a paltry average of 13.40 in the test series and 54 runs in 4 innings at an average of 18 in the ODIs. This time around, the series starts with limited overs matches. A good performance in this series would immensely boost his confidence level and would hold him in good stead for the test matches.

Overall, he has a good record in overseas test matches with five centuries against Australia and two against South Africa in their own backyard. In the test series against South Africa, his improved off stump game was on display. He would like to shut out his critics by showing that he has the necessary temperament to succeed against the likes of James Anderson and Stuart Broad in swinging and seaming conditions in England.

#2. Suresh Raina

After Rayudu was dropped from the ODI series owing to fitness concerns, Raina has been drafted in as his replacement. He would like to make most of the opportunities he gets in the T20 series and stake a claim for a middle order spot in the ODIs. Thereby, making a strong statement for a ticket to play the upcoming world cup. India's middle order is filled with right-handed batsmen. To have a southpaw his calibre in the ODIs who can bat, bowl and field excellently would be a shot in the arm for the team. He has a good record in England, and that should inspire him to do well.

Last time in 2014, when he toured England for ODIs, he inspired confidence in the emotionally and mentally depleted Indian team after test drubbing and guided them to victory in the series.

Suresh Raina would like to make a comeback into the ODI side

#3. Bhuvneswar Kumar

Owing to fitness issues, Bhuvneswar was not a regular for his franchise team in IPL 2018. After being rested in the one-off test match against Afghanistan, the team management would hope that he will be fully fit by the start of the series and raring to go. His form and fitness would be crucial for India in the upcoming series, as he is someone who can trouble the opposition with his swing bowling and at the same time, contribute with the bat.

In the ODI series against South Africa and then in IPL, he looked a bit rusty and was not among the wickets. In the recent years, he has been the leader of the pace attack. In this series, he would like to shrug off his rustiness and be among wickets. If India has to succeed in England, Bhuvi needs to be at his absolute best, and for that, the T20Is would be the perfect platform for him to start afresh.

Bhuvneswar Kumar must aim to capitalize on the swinging conditions.

#4. Jason Roy

After a rather quiet IPL 2018, Jason Roy finally got back to form in the second ODI vs Australia. No doubt that he is an impact player, but he has often been guilty of throwing away good starts and hence not being consistent enough. Also, he needs to improve his game against spinners. The management would like him to add a consistency quotient to his game in the series as he is someone who can change the complexion of the game in a matter of few overs.

With the competition for the top two opening slots in limited over matches heating up in the ongoing series versus Australia, he would like to perform constantly and make one of the spots his own. He is one of the players who can be a force behind England's dream of becoming world champions in the upcoming cricket world cup.

Jason Roy

#5. Alex Hales

The English team, being fortunate enough to have plenty of power hitters at the top, has been a rarity in the past. The current England ODI setup is fortunate enough to have players like Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow and Alex Hales battling it out for a spot at the top. Like Roy, Hales has also had an unimpressive IPL, and with the return of Ben Stokes, he is likely to be confined to the bench because of an extremely packed top order. With him and Adil Rashid having chosen only to play white ball cricket, he would like to utilize the series to get some good scores under his belt and hence put forth a case for inclusion in the playing eleven in the ODIs.

Alex Hales will look to seal a spot in the playing eleven.