The five-match T20I series to be played in Ahmedabad between England and India is expected to be a keenly contested tie, as both teams have a lot at stake. While England are the top team in the format in ICC rankings, India are not far away at number 2 in the recently updated rankings.
Virat Kohli and his men can topple England and take over the numero uno position if they win by a margin of 4-1 or more. Both the teams have been on an impressive run of bilateral series wins in the format for a while now and would want to continue that. Also, the fact that the series is being played in India in a year when the ICC T20 World Cup will also take place here, makes it even more interesting.The series will also be a prelude to the Indian Premier League which will see top stars from both teams battle it out for supremacy for their respective franchises.India have won their last 5 T20I series. They drew against South Africa and won the series against West Indies before that, which makes them unbeaten in their last 7 series in the shortest format. Their last defeat in the format came at home against Australia in 2018.England too have been unbeaten in their last 7 series, which includes a drawn series against Pakistan last year. Their last defeat incidentally came against India in 2018 at home.Both teams are eyeing Pakistan’s record of the longest winning streak in bilateral series in the format. The Pakistanis were victorious in 11 straight series between 2016 and 2018.The series will give both teams a chance to try some untested talent as they look to build their squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup later this year. Both teams will be looking to add to their solitary global titles in the format. India were champions in 2007 while England won the tournament in 2010.
India came close in 2014 when they reached the final and lost to Sri Lanka. England faced heartbreak in the last tournament, which was held in India in 2016. They lost to West Indies in the final as Carlos Brathwaite hit Ben Stokes for four consecutive sixes in the final over to deny England a title they deserved.
A victory in this series will go a long way in helping either of the two teams consolidate themselves in the format and build confidence towards challenging for the title in the T20 World Cup.
