India are set to drop leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi for the third T20I against England at Trent Bridge on Tuesday, July 7, with the team management considering an extra seamer to bolster the bowling attack. The anticipated change comes on the back of a damaging performance from the leg-spinner in the second match at Old Trafford, which proved decisive in India’s defeat.
Bishnoi conceded 29 runs from a single over during the chase, with Jacob Bethell hitting three sixes and the leg-spinner also bowling two back-foot no-balls. That 17th over shifted the equation entirely, and the hosts reached India’s 191-run target with six balls to spare. Left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh, who took three wickets but gave away 40 runs, also picked up a shoulder injury while fielding, adding further concern to India’s bowling plans for Nottingham.
In his post-match press conference, India captain Shreyas Iyer was measured in his response, suggesting the spinner would take lessons from the experience and return stronger, as quoted by Cricinfo. However, The Hindu reported that the management is leaning towards a combination change for the Trent Bridge contest, with an extra seamer expected to come in.
Can an extra seamer give India an edge at seam-friendly Trent Bridge?
Trent Bridge offers assistance to pace bowlers during the powerplay, even as it has produced high-scoring T20I fixtures. Prince Yadav, who claimed 16 wickets for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2026, and Prasidh Krishna are the leading candidates to replace the spinner in the XI. The young right-arm pacer brings good pace and bounce to the attack, while the more seasoned Krishna adds variety across his spells.
Will a change in combination help Shreyas Iyer’s side level the five-match series?
The visitors have now lost three consecutive completed T20Is, a run that includes the 2-0 series defeat to Ireland ahead of this tour. The third T20I at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, begins at 10:00 PM IST on Tuesday, July 7, with India looking to level the series and find some consistency in what has been a challenging start to the white-ball tour.
The Englishmen secured a four-wicket victory in Manchester on Saturday, July 4, to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series. The series opener at Chester-le-Street on Wednesday, July 1, had been abandoned, leaving the visitors needing to win at least two of the remaining three matches to claim the series.
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