Wrist-spin in focus again as England and India clash in T20 decider at Bristol

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  • India's wrist-spinners will be key once again in the decider.

    Less than 48 hours after England beat India by five wickets in the second T20 to level the three-match series at 1-1, the two sides will meet once again for the decider to be held at Bristol on Sunday.

    India started the series on fire with a crushing eight-wicket win in the opener at Manchester before the hosts pulled things back at Cardiff.

    With all to play for on Sunday, we look at the key talking points ahead of the clash.

    ENGLAND FACE BEN STOKES DILEMMA

    Ahead of the second T20 in Cardiff, England recalled star all-rounder Ben Stokes to the side for the final match. Stokes had missed out on the first two matches due to a hamstring injury but showed that he is back to full fitness with an unbeaten 68-ball 90 for Durham against Yorkshire in the T20 Blast.

    Stokes’ late call up could have had something to do with Alex Hale’s struggles in the first T20 where the batsman scratched around for eight from 18 balls. However, Hales roared back into form with a match-winning unbeaten 58 in England’s win a Cardiff.

    Skipper Eoin Morgan will need to make a tough call on how to possibly accommodate both Hales and Stokes. Other options for the England skipper are to drop Joe Root, which looks unlikely, or not include Stokes.

    Ben Stokes has thrown up a selection headache for Morgan.

    Ben Stokes has thrown up a selection headache for Morgan.

    BATTLE OF WRIST-SPIN IN FOCUS

    England were blown away by Kuldeep Yadav’s wrist-spin in the first T20 with the youngster returning with figures of 5-24 in India’s big win. How the hosts handled the wrist-spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep was always going to be the defining battle of the series.

    Like the series, that battle is also locked at one apiece with England showing much better application in their handling of the pair in the second T20.

    It will be interesting to see if India’s spinners alter their strategy after England’s new approach in Cardiff.

    Kuldeep Yadav and Chahal could be forced to alter their strategy.

    Kuldeep Yadav and Chahal could be forced to alter their strategy.

    BRAGGING RIGHTS FOR REST OF THE SUMMER

    With a three-match ODI series and a five-match Test series to follow, the outcome of the T20 decider could set the tone for the rest of the English summer.

    Both sides have been in excellent form in white-ball cricket of late and are the two early favourites for the World Cup to be held in England next year.

    A win for either side on Sunday could provide a much needed mental edge going into the rest of the clashes, especially the ODI series.

    Both skippers will aim for a confidence boosting win ahead of the ODIs.

    Both skippers will aim for a confidence boosting win ahead of the ODIs.

    ROHIT AND DHAWAN EYE PERSONAL MILESTONES

    While England has not been a happy hunting ground for Shikhar Dhawan so far in the series with a combined total of 14 runs, the India opener is closing in on 1,000 runs in T20I cricket. The left-hander needs 28 more runs to get to the landmark.

    On the other hand, his opening partner Rohit Sharma is on the verge of becoming only the second Indian batsman to score 2,000 runs in the T20I format. The Mumbai-man is currently 14 runs short of the mark and should he reach the mark on Sunday, he will become only the fifth batsman overall to do so and the second from India after skipper Virat Kohli breached the landmark in the first T20 at Manchester.

    Rohit Sharma is just 14 runs shy of the 2, 000-run mark.

    Rohit Sharma is just 14 runs shy of the 2,000-run mark.

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