'Virat Kohli will replace Hooda at three' - Parthiv Patel predicts India's changes for 2nd T20I vs England

After winning the first T20I comfortably, team India will take on England in the second T20I match to be played at Edgbaston, Birmingham on July 9 (Saturday). The Men in Blue were very clinical in their victory during the first T20I match and they will be looking to repeat their antics in the second game as well.

Meanwhile, some senior players including Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja are set to be available for the second encounter which is expected to create a headache for the Indian team management to finalize their playing XI. Meanwhile, former Indian players including Parthiv Patel and RP Singh have given their views on the matter.

Axar Patel will be replaced by Ravindra Jadeja for sure: Parthiv Patel

“One change is for sure and that is Axar Patel will be replaced by Ravindra Jadeja. Jasprit Bumrah will come in place of Arshdeep Singh. Virat Kohli will also come, but we don’t know on who’s place. I think he will replace Deepak Hooda at three,” Parthiv told Cricbuzz. “There is some chance that Shreyas Iyer might not get a place in the playing eleven. Rishabh Pant will also come for sure, but we don’t know whose place he will take,” he added.

When RP Singh was asked if batter Deepak Hooda will be dropped from the team to fit Kohli in the playing XI, the left-arm pacer said that despite Hooda being in excellent touch, Virat is just too good and he will be added to the playing XI. He said, “Sometimes it happens that you score a lot of runs in domestic cricket and yet you can’t get a place because the man in the national team is just too good. The question is who will Rishabh Pant replace? Ishan Kishan or Dinesh Karthik?”

As mentioned above, the Men in Blue have already won the first T20I and will back themselves to win the second match as well and clinch the series with one match to go.