Pitch Report For IND vs ENG 3rd T20I

India will take on England in the third T20I of their ongoing five-match series at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium  The hosts, under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, has made a strong start to the series as they have won the first two matches in Kolkata and Chennai.

The second game was a thrilling contest, where Tilak Varma’s brilliant knock guided India to a narrow victory. With the series now at 2-0, England will find themselves in a do-or-die situation and they will desperately need a win to keep their hopes alive in the series. Meanwhile, INDIA  will look to build on their momentum and deliver another clinical performance, with the aim to seal the series at Rajkot itself. 

• Pitch Report: 

  The Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot is known for its favourable batting conditions, making it a high-scoring venue in T20Is. The venue has flat and hard surface, making it a dream for batters. So, the pacers may struggle early on, as there is little to no swing or movement available. 

  Therefore, the fast bowlers will need to focus on maintaining their length and line, hitting the hard length to remain effective. Similarly, spinners will find little support from the pitch, with no significant turn available. 

  The average first innings total here is at an impressive 189. Taking a look at the stats, five matches have been played here out of which teams batting first have won three times, while chasing sides have managed to secure two victories. 

  As the track might not lose its pace with time, expect the toss-winner to bowl first. However, the team batting first can still exploit the conditions, taking advantage of the pitch's potential to post a challenging total and put pressure on the opposition.

  Players To Watch Out :

  Varun Chakravarthy 

• Varun Chakravarthy delivered an impressive performance in the first T20I, taking three wickets for India. He maintained his strong form in the second T20I, securing two wickets while conceding 38 runs. 
• It is noteworthy that the pitch in Rajkot may not provide significant turn, yet Varun's skilful variations are expected to challenge the England batters.

• Jos Buttler

• English captain Jos Buttler demonstrated exceptional skill in the 1st T20I match at Eden Gardens, and played a significant knock at tricky conditions. He has maintained this impressive form in the second T20I as well, where he scored 45 runs off 30 deliveries. 
• His current performance highlights his ability to effectively challenge the Indian bowling attack on this particular surface of Rajkot as well.

• Sanju Samson

• Sanju Samson is a player to watch out in the upcoming 3rd T20I. His proficiency against pace bowling and effectiveness on flat surfaces suggest that the conditions at the Rajkot pitch will be conducive to his performance. 
• Furthermore, Samson has demonstrated the capacity to play long innings, and should he secure a strong start, he has the potential to make a significant contribution.