We have opted for a fantasy cricket team based on the recent performances, overall impact, and credit points.
Emirates Old Trafford Pitch Report
It has been almost two years since an ODI took place at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester. In the last three ODIs, three centuries have been registered at the venue. In the same period, only 16 out of 51 wickets have belonged to the spinners.
Probable XIs for England & India
Probable XI for England: Jason Roy/Phillip Salt, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (c & wk), Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, David Willey, Craig Overton, Reece Topley, Brydon Carse
Probable XI for India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Prasidh Krishna/Arshdeep Singh
Power Players for England vs India, 3rd ODI
Jasprit Bumrah backed up his 6-wicket haul in the first ODI by picking 2 more scalps at Lord’s. His constant probing, especially by hitting the hard length, has made life uncomfortable for the English batters.
Jonny Bairstow appeared confident in his knock of 38 until Yuzvendra Chahal outfoxed him. He will be delighted to return to Manchester post his exploits against Australia in 2020. He smashed 84 in the first ODI and then bettered it by blasting 112 in the second ODI.
It was Yuzvendra Chahal’s 4 for 47 at Lord’s that pushed England on the back foot and restricted the hosts to below 250. He will further be elated to discover that when fellow leg-spinner Adam Zampa last bowled in an ODI series at Manchester, he finished with 10 wickets in 3 games.
Smart Picks for England vs India, 3rd ODI
Shikhar Dhawan may not always go hammer and tongs at the top. He prefers batting through the innings, and that is a boon in fantasy leagues. In the last 5 ODIs against England, he has added 209 runs at 52, including the highest score of 98.
Reece Topley’s 6 wicket-haul was instrumental in bundling India out for 146 at Lord’s. By hitting the right channel, coupled with a disconcerting bounce, he made the visitors buckle under pressure. In the process, he finished with the best ever figures by an England bowler in ODI cricket and also walked away with the Player of the Match award.
Like we saw at Lord’s, Hardik Pandya and Moeen Ali are both capable of generating fantasy points with bat and ball. While Pandya bagged 2 wickets and added 29 runs with the bat, Moeen’s 47 proved to be invaluable for the hosts. Later in the game, he also picked up the solitary wicket of Hardik.
If India are to win the series, they will need a significant contribution from Rohit Sharma. He averages in excess of 50 in the format in England (5 centuries in the last 9 ODIs). Moreover, he also scored an unbeaten 76 in the opening game.
Also Read:
England vs India ODI Head-to-Head Record
West Indies vs Bangladesh, 3rd ODI: Fantasy Cricket Tips
Manchester Blues
Jason Roy can either help you march ahead in fantasy leagues or fail you in a matter of a few deliveries. Moreover, he doesn’t have a great record at Old Trafford. He has been dismissed for a single-digit score on four occasions out of six.
Much like Roy, Joe Root too failed when he last played at Old Trafford against Australia in 2020. The marquee batter could only manage 40 runs in 3 ODIs.
Form Concern
Virat Kohli has been experiencing a torrid time on this tour of England. It has been five innings and he is yet to get past the 20-run mark.
England vs India, 3rd ODI Match Preview
Although the series has been pushed into a decider, both teams will be bitterly disappointed with their batting efforts. That said, they are champion sides, and with the series on the line, expect nothing but an intense performance. At the moment, though, it is anybody’s ball game.
Time: 17 July, 3.30 PM IST