India vs England Fifth T20 Preview

The fifth and final match of India and England’s T20 international series takes place at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday. The match is due to get underway at 1:30pm UK time (7pm local time).

India have won three of their five T20s at the Wankhede, including each of their last three. The win over Sri Lanka in 2023 was the first T20I played at the stadium since 2019, however.

England have played three matches at the Wankhede, beating India in 2012, and recording a win and a loss against South Africa and West Indies, respectively, in the 2016 World Cup.

Two of India’s three wins at the Wankhede since the World Cup came when they were batted first. The first innings scores (162, 240, 135) show the considerable variation in conditions over that period.

Bowling first has usually been an advantage for teams in the IPL. Over 150+ matches in the competition, the team batting first has a 46% winning rate. It often has good carry, which could favour England’s quick bowlers, and the short boundaries make it a good place to bat. This is reflected in an average score batting first of 170, per howstat.

India are comfortably favoured to win the final match of the series, though these conditions could work in England’s favour if spin bowlers are less impactful.

Suryakumar Yadav to top score for India

Suryakumar Yadav was kept uncharacteristically quiet in the first three matches of this series. The Wankhede has been a favoured venue for SKY over the years, though, having spent the majority of his IPL career with the Mumbai Indians.

Across 32 matches at the Wankhede in the IPL, SKY averages 38.71 with a strike rate of 162.2. He’s scored two hundreds and eight fifties in those matches.

His form might not be the best, but this is where SKY has played some of his most destructive knocks. Don’t be surprised to see him light up England’s quicks.

Jofra Archer to win Player of the Match

Jofra Archer’s pace has caused problems for India’s top order in this series. If the Wankhede groundsman produces a pitch with decent pace and bounce, Archer is going to be a real threat with the new ball.

The powerplay is – as ever – huge for both teams. Brendon McCullum and Jos Buttler have been willing to give Archer three powerplay overs to try and get a stranglehold over an innings, which gives Archer more opportunity to pick up match-winning wickets.

It’s an ultra-small sample, yet Archer’s record at the Wankhede in the IPL is worth a look at. He’s taken five wickets in two matches, good for a strike rate of 9.6 and an average of 11, while going at only 6.88 per over.

England to hit the most sixes

England are longer odds than India in this T20 betting market. Yes, the tourists have struggled against the spinners, nullifying much of their six-hitting threat, but this still stands out as a value option for the series finale.

If England avoid a collapse – which they should do if the pitch isn’t as spin-friendly – their powerful batting lineup will have no problem clearing the ropes at the Wankhede.

Buttler’s team is packed with powerful ball-strikers from Phil Salt and the skipper himself down to Jamie Overton, Liam Livingstone, and Brydon Carse.