The Indian XI: The Defending Champions
India is going with an ultra-aggressive "new-age"
look, though they’ve been forced to tinker with the bowling due to some
last-minute drama.
The firecrackers at the top will be Abhishek Sharma and
Ishan Kishan, who’s also taking the gloves. They’re followed by Tilak Varma at
three, who has thankfully shaken off a niggle just in time. The captain,
Suryakumar Yadav, slots in at four—right in his own backyard.
The middle-order muscle is provided by Hardik Pandya, Rinku
Singh, and the towering Shivam Dube. Axar Patel acts as the primary all-rounder
at seven. In the bowling department, it’s a big night for Mohammed Siraj, who
steps in for the unwell Jasprit Bumrah to lead the attack alongside Arshdeep
Singh. The spin duties fall to the "mystery" man Varun Chakaravarthy,
who has edged out Kuldeep Yadav for this opener.
The USA XI: The Ambitious Underdogs
The Americans are fielding a side that’s surprisingly
familiar with Indian conditions, led by captain Monank Patel.
They’ll likely start with Andries Gous and the young Saiteja
Mukkamalla at the top. Shayan Jahangir and Monank Patel provide the backbone of
the middle order, followed by the experienced Milind Kumar.
Their all-round strength comes from Harmeet Singh and
Shubham Ranjane, both of whom have deep roots in Indian domestic cricket. The
bowling will be anchored by the man everyone’s talking about, Saurabh
Netravalkar, supported by the raw pace of Ali Khan, the craft of Nosthush
Kenjige, and the variations of Mohammad Mohsin.
The Latest from the Ground
The news of Jasprit Bumrah missing out due to a viral fever
has definitely shifted the vibe. While India is still the heavy favourite, the
USA will smell a tiny bit of blood. If Siraj and Arshdeep don't get that new
ball to talk under the Mumbai lights, the American openers might just fancy
their chances on what looks like an absolute "highway" of a pitch.
The toss is at 6:30 PM IST—in just about 30 minutes. Would you like me to ping you the moment we hear whether Surya has decided to bat or bowl?
News by - Aaradhay Sharma
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