TACTICAL PREVIEW
Follow UsThe India-England fixture was supposed to be one of the showpiece clashes of the 2023 World Cup. But things have gone on such unexpected lines that it is now a ‘number two vs number ten’ clash on the points table.
India are undefeated in the tournament. The only side England have beaten in five matches is Bangladesh. Their chances are dependent on a lot of things outside their control going right. Given how this competition has proceeded, they can barely go right with things in their grasp. Their strongest suit, their batting, has fallen flat on its face. England have the second-lowest batting average this World Cup (24.2) and India hold the second-best bowling average (25.9). It is as big a mismatch as you can imagine.
India, on a rampant run, have a chance to close that mathematical door on England’s chances.
Things to watch out for
England’s combination
England started the World Cup in their usual team combination - two spin-bowling all-rounders in Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone, and two seam-bowling all-rounders in Chris Woakes and Sam Curran. All these four players have been dropped at some stage in their campaign. It is clear that the streak of losses have sent England’s Plan A into a frenzy and they are not sure of their back up plans as yet.
Thus, their combination against a dominating team like India will be interesting to see.
Can England bowlers stop Rohit Sharma?
Averaging 65.2 at a run rate of 6.5, India have both second highest average and run-rate in the first 10 overs this World Cup. Rohit Sharma has scored 60.4% of India’s first powerplay runs. Among all openers this World Cup, Rohit has the third highest attacking shot percentage but it is an average of 197 that is scary.
With the ball not swinging much, England have the worst economy in the first 10 overs (6.6), establishing a contrasting dual at the start of India’s innings. At the other end, India will keep an eye on Shubman Gill who has looked good without a highly significant contribution as yet.
Joe Root vs Indian spinners
The England batting lineup is loaded with underperforming batters. Against India, the onus will be on Joe Root to step up during the middle overs.
The toughest spin unit to score against, India's spinners have an economy of only 4.3, the best in the tournament. The next best are South Africa and Afghanistan with 5.1. In Lucknow, India may add Ravichandran Ashwin too, making it a three-man spin attack alongside Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja.
Root averages 46.2 against India in ODIs. His range of sweep strokes can come in handy to break the rhythm of Kuldeep and Ashwin. Implementing the same would be tough against Jadeja who can bowl quicker and has dismissed Root twice in India. However, his presence through the middle overs will provide England with breathing space against Indian spinners who have choked the opposition in this phase.
READ: How Kuldeep & Jadeja's middle-overs chokes have enabled India to dominate
Ground Details and Conditions
Most analysis related to the conditions at Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow doesn't apply now because the pitch at this venue was re-laid just before the World Cup. The new surface has shown assistance for both batters and spinners.
South Africa scored 311 in the first game of the competition here. In the next game, Sri Lanka had a 125-run opening stand before a collapse reduced them to 209. The Netherlands recovered from 91/6 to 262 in the subsequent game against Sri Lanka.
At 40.9%, Ekana has the second-highest proportion of wickets for spinners. Hence, there are reports suggesting India will play Ashwin in this fixture.
The weather is expected to be nice and clear with a 0% chance of rain.
Tactical Insights
> Ashwin vs Ben Stokes will be a battle to watch out. The off-spinner has dismissed Stokes 11 times in Tests, the most for any bowler. Even in ODIs, Ashwin has pouched the left-hander four times for only 56 runs. The last time these two faced each other in this format was in 2017. If Ashwin is brought in, there will be a new chapter to their rivalry.
> The good length has caused Jonny Bairstow’s undoing. The opener has averaged only 17 on this length against pace (two dismissals) at a strike rate of 69.5 this World Cup. Jasprit Bumrah has mastered that length and will target Bairstow with the same.
Meanwhile, Jos Buttler has been out to this length four times scoring just 23 runs.
> Virat Kohli averages 37.7 against England spinners, his second-lowest against the spin attack of any team. Both Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali have dismissed him thrice each in the format. Expect England to bowl a lot of spin at Kohli. However, the former Indian captain is yet to get out to spin in this World Cup.
Playing XIs
India
Hardik Pandya will continue to sit out due to his ankle injury. There is a buzz around Ashwin’s inclusion but removing any of Mohammed Shami or Mohammed Siraj would be a tough call. In either case, India will be playing only two pacers.
Rohit Sharma ( c ), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin/Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
England
Predicting England’s XI is as good as taking a shot in the dark. They have changed their XI and combination every game and we can once again see a few changes.
Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (wk), Moeen Ali/Liam Livingstone, Chris Woakes/Sam Curran, David Willey, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood/Gus Atkinson
