IND vs ENG: Predicted India playing XI for the second T20I

The first match of the five-game T20I series between India and England ended in a 'no result' due to rain. In that opening match, India posted a total of 189/7, thanks to half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma and Shreyas Iyer. However, the Indian team did not get a chance to bowl, as rain interrupted proceedings and the match was eventually abandoned. Both teams—the 'Men in Blue' (visitors) and the 'Three Lions' (hosts)—have now arrived at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester, where the second T20I is scheduled to take place on July 4. Shreyas Iyer had stepped in for Suryakumar Yadav as captain, but Team India is still searching for its first victory under his leadership.

Sanju Samson's poor form is a major concern for Team India; he has managed to score only six runs across the three matches played so far against Ireland and England. Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan's bat has also remained quiet. Both players were among India's top run-scorers during the T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, yet they have been completely subdued on the UK tour so far. Tilak Varma is also struggling at 5. Despite this, it is highly unlikely that the team management will drop them. Shreyas Iyer did register his first half-century as captain in the previous match, which would have provided the team with some relief.

There is very little likelihood of the Indian team making any changes for the second T20I. There is a strong demand to field Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in place of Sanju Samson, but the management is inclined to give the opportunity to Sanju. This clearly means that the 15-year-old batting sensation will have to wait a while longer for his international debut.

There are currently no injury concerns for Team India, so they might field the same playing XI that took the field in the first T20I. In the previous match, the team played with a combination of two specialist fast bowlers and one fast-bowling all-rounder (Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Shivam Dube), alongside two specialist spinners and one spin-bowling all-rounder (Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, and Axar Patel); this same combination could be seen in the second T20I as well.

Predicted India playing XI

Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer ©, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy