India's predicted playing XI for first T20I v England

All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur

Hardik Pandya's all-round abilities are a huge plus to India.

Hardik Pandya was the Man of the Series in India's last T20I series against Australia, despite playing as a pure batsman. Having recovered sufficiently from a back condition, Hardik's four overs of pace add tremendous stability to a bowling line-up that was often painfully exposed against Australia. His consistent big-hitting has facilitated his move up to No. 6 in the batting lineup.

Another star of the Test leg, Washington Sundar was superb with the bat, but will look to come good with the ball too. In a format that has been kind to him, Sundar might be used once again as a powerplay bowler to contain the batsmen. He also showed the ability to strike the ball well, which augurs well for India in case the likes of Pant and Pandya have an off-day.

Shardul Thakur made as many headlines with his bowling whenever picked, as he did with his crucial fifty in the Brisbane Test. In strong hitting form during the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Thakur's consistent match-winning cameos grant him an entry into the all-rounders list. He will be looked upon to deliver in his primary suit - swinging the ball up front if needed, and bowling with variations in the middle overs.

---

Bowlers: Deepak Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal will look to come good on favourable surfaces.

Despite enduring a middling IPL, Deepak Chahar would back himself to come good in home conditions. He was used as a powerplay bowler in the IPL, and that trend may continue with Hardik Pandya's bowling available in the middle overs. He also lengthens the batting to a degree, having shown his ability to bat on a few occasions in the IPL as well as in domestic cricket.

Indian fans will be thrilled to see Bhuvneshwar Kumar make his return to the team after a lengthy injury layoff. Absent since the middle of the IPL, Bhuvneshwar's return offers India the sort of control they lacked in the powerplay overs, along with the cushion of a few runs with the bat if needed.

Yuzvendra Chahal will be under enormous pressure after an indifferent show against Australia that eventually saw him dropped. With Axar Patel breathing down his neck for a place, and all-rounder Rahul Tewatia in the mix as well, Chahal will try to bring his best game to the fore. India do not have a lack of upcoming leg-spinners - Rahul Chahar too is waiting in the wings - and Chahal cannot be complacent in this series.