India vs England: How England might line up for the first T20I

Middle-order: Alex Hales, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root

Given the emphasis on India's spinners, the middle order will play the most crucial role for England, as these are the batsmen that will be tasked with getting England through the middle overs when India's wrist-spinners are bowling.

Alex Hales and Jonny Bairstow pick themselves in the team, especially the latter. Bairstow has suddenly found a new gear to his game, and has become an extremely explosive batsman, as many would have witnessed in the recently concluded series against Australia.

While he does not have substantial experience in T20 internationals, his generally imperious form and explosive batting is still bound to send a few shivers up the Indian camp. Hales, on the other hand, is an experienced T20 campaigner who has played a significant number of T20 internationals and has had several successful stints in T20 leagues around the world.

While critics may argue that Root does not have a place in this explosive T20 line-up, his stabilising influence and ability to play in the middle overs, particularly against spin, will be critical to England's success in this series. Further, the coach Paul Farbrace has all but confirmed that Root will be on the team sheet for the T20s against India.