ENG vs IND Fantasy Team Prediction for the 2nd T20I promises another exciting contest as England and India meet at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester. Officially this is the second T20I of the series. In reality, it’s the first one that’s actually going to finish.
England and India were set to open this five match series at Chester-le-Street, and India put on a genuine show with the bat, racing to 189 for 7. Then the rain came down and never really stopped. The match was called off before England even got a chance to bat. No result, no points on the board, nothing to show for a genuinely good India batting effort. So both teams arrive at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester on Saturday July 4 with the series still at nil nil, and this feels a lot more like a series opener than a second match.
Match Details
Match: England vs India, 2nd T20I, India tour of England 2026
Date: Saturday, July 4, 2026
Time: 2:30 PM BST which is 7:00 PM IST
Venue: Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
ENG Captain: Harry Brook
IND Captain: Shreyas Iyer
Watch live in India: Sony Sports Network channels, DD Sports, and JioHotstar for streaming
What You Need To Know Before This Match
Let’s talk about what actually happened at Chester-le-Street first, because it tells you a lot about where both teams stand right now.
India won the toss and batted first, going in with a genuinely bold plan, three specialist spinners in the XI alongside Axar Patel as the all rounder. Abhishek Sharma smashed a fifty off just 20 balls to give India a flying start, and captain Shreyas Iyer then anchored things with 68 off 47 balls before Shivam Dube finished the innings with an unbeaten 42 off 21. All told, India posted 189 for 7, a proper platform to defend. Then the weather took over completely, and England never got to bat a single ball. The match was abandoned, no result recorded.
There’s one name that still hasn’t appeared anywhere in this series, and it’s the one everyone keeps asking about. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, India’s 15 year old batting sensation, was left out again for the opener, just like he was for both matches against Ireland before this tour. India’s team management has been clear that it’s not a question of ability, it’s about not disturbing an opening pair that includes Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, both coming off strong IPL seasons. Whether that changes at Old Trafford remains to be seen.
On England’s side, the big team news is actually good news for them. Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue both sat out the Chester-le-Street game, but not because of injury. They were simply being managed and rested after bowling in this week’s Test match against New Zealand, and both are expected to be available and rejoin the squad for this game at Old Trafford. If Archer comes straight back into the XI, that’s a genuinely different, sharper England bowling attack than the one India faced in the rained out opener.
Team Form Last 5
England: L W W W W
That solitary loss was actually the T20 World Cup semi final against this very same India side back in March, where England posted 246 but still came up short. Since then England have been red hot, winning four matches in a row through the Super 8 stage of the World Cup, including wins over New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Italy.
India: L L W W W
India’s most recent results were actually their two defeats, both against Ireland just before this England series began, a result their own captain called depressing afterwards. Before that dip, though, India were nearly unstoppable, winning the T20 World Cup final against New Zealand and beating England in that semi final chase of 253.
Both teams have serious quality, but India’s last two results before this series were a genuine wobble, and it’s fair to say there’s a bit more pressure on their dressing room heading into this one than England’s.
Head To Head ENG vs IND
India lead the recent head to head comfortably, winning 7 of the last 10 meetings between these two sides, including that big World Cup semi final back in March.
- 2nd Semi Final, T20 World Cup 2026: England made 246/7, India chased it down with 253/7. India won.
- 5th T20I, ENG vs IND 2025: India posted 247/9, England were bowled out for just 97. India won by a landslide.
- 4th T20I, ENG vs IND 2025: India made 181/9, England fell short at 166. India won.
- 3rd T20I, ENG vs IND 2025: India scored 145/9, England chased it down for 171/9. England won.
- 2nd T20I, ENG vs IND 2025: India made 166/8 in 19.2 overs, England were held to 165/9. India won by the finest of margins.
India’s dominance in this rivalry recently is pretty clear, but that 97 all out result for England shows just how badly things can go wrong for the hosts when their batting has an off day.
Team Comparison Overall
Here’s how both teams have performed across their last 10 matches against all opposition, not just each other.
England: Win rate of 80 percent, averaging 172 runs per innings, with a best of 246 and a worst of 128.
India: Win rate of 70 percent, averaging a higher 195 runs per innings, with a best of 256 and a worst of just 111.
England actually win more often despite scoring less on average, which points to a side that’s very good at defending totals and squeezing matches late. India score more runs on average but have shown they can also collapse badly, that low of 111 being proof of just how far things can unravel when their batting has a bad night.
Emirates Old Trafford Pitch Report
Old Trafford has hosted 19 matches worth of data, and the pattern here is genuinely interesting. Teams batting first have only won 32 percent of the time, while teams bowling first have won 47 percent. That’s a meaningful gap, and it tells you defending is generally the tougher skill needed here, not chasing.
Even more telling, the average first innings score at this ground is 162, but the average second innings score is only 124. In simple terms, teams batting first tend to set totals that look competitive on paper, and then bowlers make life very hard for whoever comes out to chase. This isn’t a pure batting paradise despite the eye catching highest total on record here being a huge 304 for 2 by England against South Africa. That was very much the exception, not the rule.
Spin has actually had a bigger say than pace at this ground recently too. Across the last 10 matches played here, spinners have taken 68 wickets compared to 58 for the pace bowlers. Given India went in with three frontline spinners in the rained out opener, that’s a selection that could pay off again here.
Toss verdict: Bowl first if you win it. The numbers clearly favour the chasing team at this ground.
Par score: Based on the venue history, something in the 150 to 165 range looks like a genuinely defendable total here, rather than the 180 plus totals you might expect walking in blind.
Weather Report For July 4 In Manchester
- Temperature: Around 16.5 degrees Celsius, noticeably cooler than a typical Indian summer night
- Conditions: Cloudy
- Humidity: 74 percent
- Rain chance: 55 percent
This is a genuine concern for this match. A 55 percent chance of rain is high enough that fans should be mentally prepared for delays, a reduced overs match, or worst case another washout just like the series opener. If you’re setting your fantasy team, it might be worth leaning slightly toward top order batters and strike bowlers who get their overs in early, in case this match ends up getting shortened.
England Playing XI
From the rained out opener, England’s XI was: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Harry Brook (captain), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood, Saqib Mahmood.
Here’s the important bit for this game specifically. Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue are both expected to rejoin the squad now that their Test match workload is done, having only been rested rather than injured for the series opener. If either comes straight into the XI at Old Trafford, expect Wood or Mahmood to make way. Jamie Overton remains unavailable through injury regardless. Check the official toss announcement before finalizing your fantasy team, since this England attack could look meaningfully different from the one India faced in Durham.
India Playing XI
From the rained out opener, India’s XI was: Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy.
The headline non selection remains Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who is with the squad but yet to make his international debut despite huge anticipation. Notably, Jasprit Bumrah isn’t part of this T20I squad at all, being managed separately with an eye on the ODI leg of the tour later this month. Don’t pick him in any fantasy team for this series, he simply isn’t available.
Players To Watch
Abhishek Sharma, India
Smashed a 20 ball fifty in the series opener before the rain arrived, continuing his excellent recent IPL form into international cricket. He’s the kind of batter who can put a genuine dent in England’s powerplay figures inside the first few overs.
Shreyas Iyer, India
India’s captain anchored the innings in Durham with 68 off 47 balls, and with pressure mounting after the Ireland series loss, another big score here would go a long way toward settling both his own form and the team’s confidence.
Jofra Archer, England
If he’s back in the XI as expected, Archer is simply one of the most dangerous new ball bowlers in world cricket right now. On a ground where pace bowlers have had success and totals tend to be defended rather than chased down easily, his return could be the single biggest team news story of this match.
Harry Brook, England
England’s captain is fresh off being talked about as a future Test captain and has a World Cup hundred against Pakistan to his name from earlier this year. He’ll want to set the tone with the bat after England were denied the chance to respond to India’s total in the opener.
Varun Chakaravarthy, India
The mystery spinner made his return from injury count in the series opener and forms part of India’s three man spin attack. Given spin has out performed pace at this exact ground recently, he’s a genuine wicket taking threat with the ball.
Match Prediction
This match carries a bit more weight than a normal second game of a series, purely because it’s effectively still match one for England with the bat. India will feel they have the early momentum after posting a strong total in Durham, but the return of Archer and Tongue to England’s attack changes the equation considerably, especially at a ground that has historically rewarded the bowling side more than the batting one.
Our prediction leans toward England here, mainly on the back of their bowling attack strengthening with Archer’s expected return and the venue history favouring teams that bowl first and defend. That said, with a 55 percent chance of rain hanging over the match, there’s a real possibility this game doesn’t even reach a natural conclusion, so keep an eye on the weather updates as much as the team news.
Best Fantasy XI For ENG vs IND Tonight
| Player | Team | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Jos Buttler | ENG | Wicketkeeper |
| Abhishek Sharma (Captain) | IND | Batter |
| Harry Brook (Vice Captain) | ENG | Batter |
| Shreyas Iyer | IND | Batter |
| Tilak Varma | IND | Batter |
| Sam Curran | ENG | All Rounder |
| Axar Patel | IND | All Rounder |
| Jofra Archer | ENG | Bowler |
| Adil Rashid | ENG | Bowler |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | IND | Bowler |
| Arshdeep Singh | IND | Bowler |
Captain: Abhishek Sharma. He’s shown he can take apart any bowling attack inside the powerplay, already proving it with a 20 ball fifty in the series opener. On a ground where early wickets can define the whole match, a batter this explosive at the top of the order is exactly who you want wearing the captain’s armband.
Vice Captain: Harry Brook. England’s captain has a World Cup hundred to his name this year and will be desperate to make his own mark with the bat after not even getting to bowl or bat in the opener. Strong recent form plus extra motivation makes him a smart vice captain pick.
Differential Pick: Varun Chakaravarthy. With most fantasy players expected to load up on the bigger pace bowling names, Chakaravarthy offers a lower ownership route into a venue that has actually favoured spin over pace recently. If he strikes early, he could be the pick that separates your team from the crowd.
FANTASY
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Q: What time does ENG vs IND 2nd T20I start in India?
A: 7:00 PM IST on Saturday, July 4, 2026. The local start time in Manchester is 2:30 PM BST.
Q: What happened in the 1st T20I between England and India?
A: India batted first and posted 189 for 7, with fifties from Abhishek Sharma and Shreyas Iyer. Rain then set in and the match was abandoned before England had the chance to bat, leaving the series at nil nil.
Q: Is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi playing in this match?
A: He was left out of the series opener and has not made his international debut yet. Check the official toss lineup before including him in your fantasy team.
Q: Is Jofra Archer playing in the 2nd T20I?
A: He was rested, not injured, for the opener specifically to be available for this match. He is expected to rejoin the England squad and could return straight into the XI at Old Trafford.
Q: Should the toss winner bat or bowl first at Old Trafford?
A: Bowl first if you win the toss. Teams chasing have won 47 percent of matches at this ground compared to just 32 percent for teams batting first.
Q: What is the head to head record between England and India?
A: India lead the recent head to head 7 wins to 3 across the last 10 meetings, including a win in the T20 World Cup semi final earlier this year.
Q: Will rain affect the 2nd T20I?
A: There is a 55 percent chance of rain in Manchester on matchday, so a delay or reduced overs match is a real possibility.
Q: Where can I watch ENG vs IND live in India?
A: Sony Sports Network channels and DD Sports for TV, with JioHotstar for live streaming.