Team India, buoyed by a commanding seven-wicket victory in their opening match, aims to extend their lead against England in the second game of the five-match series on Saturday in Chennai. Despite ongoing fitness concerns regarding Mohammed Shami, the home team appears well-prepared to sustain their strong performance.

Shami, who was anticipated to play in the first match, was held back to allow the management to further evaluate his fitness. His potential participation in this upcoming match will hinge on a final fitness assessment. In his absence, the Indian bowling unit performed admirably in Kolkata, with Arshdeep Singh effectively dismantling the English batting order with the new ball, while Varun Chakaravarthy excelled during the middle overs.

The pitch at Chepauk is expected to favour spin bowlers, consistent with historical trends. India’s spin trio of Varun Chakaravarthy, Axar Patel, and Ravi Bishnoi will be crucial in capitalizing on these conditions. The home side possesses a blend of quality and variety in their lineup, featuring Varun, vice-captain Axar Patel, and Ravi Bishnoi, positioning them well for the challenge ahead.

England’s spinners, Adil Rashid and Liam Livingstone, must significantly improve their performance after a lacklustre showing in Kolkata. Given the challenging nature of the Chepauk surface, spinners from both teams are anticipated to play a pivotal role in determining the match's outcome.

India’s opening partnership of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson has proven to be a revelation, consistently providing solid starts since their collaboration began last year. In the first T20I, Abhishek delivered a remarkable performance, scoring at an impressive strike rate exceeding 230. However, concerns have arisen regarding Abhishek's fitness following reports of an ankle twist during a training session.

Should Abhishek be unable to participate, there is a possibility that captain Suryakumar Yadav may opt to open the batting himself, as the team lacks a designated opener. Meanwhile, Samson has recorded three centuries in his last six innings, solidifying their position as India’s preferred opening pair.

India's likely XI

Openers: Abhishek Sharma/Suryakumar Yadav (if Abhishek is unfit), Sanju Samson

Middle-order: Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh

All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel

Bowlers: Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakaravarthy

Read Also: "Harbhajan Singh Questions Selection Criteria After Karun Nair's Champions Trophy Exclusion"

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!