Ravi Bishnoi Dropped, Sanju Samson To Replace? India's Predicted Playing XI For 3rd T20I Vs England 2026

India's predicted XI Vs England for 3rd T20I [Source: AFP]

After suffering a drubbing at the hands of England in the second T20I, Team India will be eager to bounce back as they take on a confident England side in the third game of the series at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. India have been on a downward curve ever since winning the T20 World Cup, and the team would hope to snap that streak on Tuesday.

At one stage, England was in danger of losing the game as India had posted a competitive 190 on the board, but Jacob Bethell produced a match-winning innings to help the hosts take a 1-0 lead.

Several Indian players underperformed, and the Men in Blue need to rejig their playing XI to stand a chance against the England team. Ahead of the 3rd T20I game at Trent Bridge, we take a look at India’s predicted XI, with two key changes incoming.

India's playing XI Vs England, 3rd T20I, 2026

Openers and top order: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson(w)

Vaibhav Sooryavashi, the India debutant, couldn’t do much in the second T20I against England and scored just 14 runs. However, the 15-year-old is a special talent, and India should back him for the remainder of the series as he showed glimpses of his brilliance against Jofra Archer.

Abhishek Sharma has been in red-hot form and has already scored runs against England in the last two T20I games. With the middle-order not firing, India needs Abhishek Sharma to continue delivering the goods in the third game.

However, one change India could make is to include Sanju Samson in the playing XI in place of Ishan Kishan. The T20 World Cup Player of the Tournament was omitted from the XI after three failures, but Ishan Kishan’s case remains the same.

Kishan has scored just 62 runs in the last four T20I matches and has been woefully out of touch. Perhaps India should try Samson at 3, a position where he has scored runs for the Rajasthan Royals.

Middle-order and all-rounders: Shreyas Iyer(c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel

India’s middle-order batters have blown hot and cold throughout the UK tour, and the onus to score big will lie on the shoulders of captain Shreyas Iyer, who’ll bat at number 4. He has done well in the first two T20I matches, and the captain will hope to continue the same form in the third T20I.

The rest of the batters will be used as floaters. If India needs a big six-hitter to counter the English spinners, then Shivam Dube will come in at 5. Moreover, Tilak Varma, who played well in the last T20I, will most likely play as a finisher at 6.

Axar Patel has not done much with the bat, but India would hope that the left-handed batter could come good against England in the 3rd T20I.

Also Read: Why India Must Rethink Their T20I Batting Combination

Bowlers: Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy

Harshit Rana has been in solid form ever since he made his India return after an injury, and the right-arm pacer will be one of the leaders of the Indian attack. Also, if needed, he can be sent ahead of Axar Patel as a pinch-hitter.

Arshdeep Singh will be the second pacer in the playing XI, but there is one change the team could make: Drop Ravi Bishnoi and bring in Prince Yadav. Bishnoi was punished by the English batters in the second T20I as he conceded 60 runs in four overs, and was one of the reasons why India lost.

With Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel in the side, India doesn’t require a third spinner in the playing XI, and instead of Bishnoi, the Men in Blue should bring in Prince Yadav, the tearaway pacer. He can torment the batters in the power play and can also take wickets in the death overs.

India's predicted playing XI Vs England, 3rd T20I

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson(w), Shreyas Iyer(c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy

Also Read: Who Faces Gautam Gambhir's Wrath If Sanju Samson Comes Back In India's Playing XI