India look to plug gaps in series-decider against England

Bristol, July 7

With England winning the second T20I by five wickets to level the series 1-1, India will aim to improve their performance and win the third and decisive contest on Sunday.

In the second match, the England bowling attack restricted India to a below-par score of 148/5. The English bowlers were accurate in their line and length as they struck at regular intervals, preventing the visitors from reaching a challenging total on a batting-friendly wicket. Apart from skipper Virat Kohli (47) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (32*), no Indian batsman clicked. uresh Raina did contribute 27 runs, but that was too little, too late.

If India want to seal the series, then top-order batsmen like Shikhar Dhawan, who failed in both the matches, Rohit Sharma and Lokesh Rahul need to score big. In the bowling department, the spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal has to click along with the pacers.

England captain Eoin Morgan said there could be changes in the team with all-rounder Ben Stokes returning from injury.

Despite the disappointment of a loss in the second T20I on Friday, the visitors are still in contention for their sixth consecutive T20I series win, which is part of an unbeaten run stretching back to September 2017.

The last time India lost a bilateral T20I contest was against West Indies in July 2017, though it was only a one-off game. 

Brief Scores: India: 148/5 (Kohli 47, Dhoni 32*; Plunkett 1/17); England: 149/5 (Hales 58*, Bairstow 28; Umesh 2/36). — Agencies

England tackled Kuldeep well: Kohli 

England could level the series since they came well-prepared to effectively tackle wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, India captain Virat Kohli said after they lost the second T20I by five wickets. Kohli had no qualms in admitting that the hosts were a better side in the second T20I with the hosts comfortably chasing a 150-run target. Kuldeep Yadav remained wicket-less in the second match. “They played Kuldeep really well today, and that was the difference in the middle overs this time. They did their homework and played Kuldeep really well. We need to get back day after," Kohli said after the match. — PTI