India vs England 2016-17: Probable Indian XI for the 3rd T20I

Middle Order

Suresh Raina has looked good without a decent score

#3 Suresh Raina

The southpaw’s return into the T20 format raised a lot of eyebrows everywhere, but the veteran has looked to be in decent touch in the two innings so far. He has walked out to bat at his preferred number 3 position and has shown good promise. However, much like Kohli, he has not yet played an innings of substance and his experience could come in handy in the crucial 3^rd match.

He also offers the off-spinning option to Virat Kohli and is still a reliable fielder, and all these attributes make him cut-out for the shortest format.

#4 Yuvraj Singh

The experienced batsman rolled back the clock with his breathtaking century in the 2^nd ODI and has looked in nice touch all through. However, his scores have not quite stacked up and the final T20 could not have come at a better time to prove his worth once again.

He bats the crucial number 4 position and has the ability to act as the fulcrum around which the entire batting could rotate. With the ground dimensions not as big, and with the pitch expected to be a flat batting paradise Yuvraj could stamp his authority over the England bowlers.

#5 MS Dhoni

The wicket-keeper batsman has not got enough time to express himself in the centre, and to be fair has looked a bit jittery. He needs the time to get going and often in the shortest format time is a big constraint.

Dhoni needs to step up and provide the finishing touch right from the word go and there are few better sights in world cricket that a belligerent MS Dhoni running the fielders ragged with his boisterous play.

Also, he has been a bank for Virat Kohli the captain and the sight of them formulating tactics on the go in the centre is a soothing one for the Indian cricket team fans.

#6 Manish Pandey

The Karnataka batsman has got a new role in this Indian team and has assumed the role of a finisher. On a sluggish track in the 2^nd T20, Pandey played a stable innings, but in hindsight, his innings played a crucial role in dragging the Indian team to a competitive total in the end.

He returns his home ground where he is well versed with the conditions, and hopefully, the Indian team could benefit from his prowess.