“Only time will tell whether the Test loss will have any impact” – Rohit Sharma ahead of first T20I against England

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Team India captain Rohit Sharma feels that only time will tell whether the seven-wicket loss against England in the rescheduled fifth Test could have an impact on their white-ball series. The 35-year-old returned to the side after testing negative for COVID-19 and is gearing for the first T20I which is scheduled to take place at the Rose Bowl, Southampton on July 7. 

"Only time will tell whether the Test loss will have any impact" - Rohit Sharma ahead of first T20I against England

In the absence of Rohit Sharma, the Test side was led by Jasprit Bumrah. With only a two-day gap between the end of the Test and the commencement of the T20I series, the players involved in the recent series against Ireland will take part in the series opener. The captain will have a much stronger squad for the remainder of the campaign.

The focus is heavily on the T20I series which continues India’s preparation for the T20 World Cup in Australia, later this year. England will be led by Jos Buttler, after Eoin Morgan announced his retirement from international cricket.

Speaking ahead of the first T20I, Sharma said:

“It’s obviously disappointing to not come out as victors. The Test series was for India to win. That said, time will tell whether that loss will have any impact in the T20I and ODI series against England. That was a different format and this will be a different one,”

One of the major takeaways from the 2-0 series win over Ireland was Umran Malik’s highly-anticipated debut in national colors. The right-arm pacer only got a solitary over in the first contest which was marred by rain, but bowled his full quota of overs in the subsequent match, even bowling the final over to dent Ireland’s chance to secure a famous win.

Stating that Umran Malik is very much in the team’s plan for the near future, Sharma said:

“Umran is very much in our plans. Right now, we are trying to give him an understanding on what his role would be and what the team requires from him. We have to see where we can bowl him,”

The Jammu and Kashmir bowler is included in the T20 squad for the England series, but could not find a place in the ODI squad.

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