Root can cause India problems and enable England to level T20 series

The selection of Joe Root proved an inspired decision in the final Test against India and England may want to consider a similar decision in order to avoid defeat in the T20 series with the same opposition.

Root replaced Samit Patel at Nagpur and his 93 runs were vital to England securing the draw they needed to win the Test series.

They now find themselves 1-0 down in the T20 series after a five-wicket defeat in Pune, where they struggled in both the batting and bowling departments.

After a strong early stand between Alex Hales and Luke Wright, the middle order collapsed before Jos Buttler gave them something to bowl at with some big hits late on.

In reality, their total was 30 runs short of where it should have been and adding another recognised batsman to their line-up could help in this regard.

Jonny Bairstow would have been the obvious option, but he has returned home, leaving the door open for Root to make another impact.

Meanwhile, the majority of the bowlers were expensive in their spells, with recognised spin bowler Danny Briggs being given just one over, which went for 18 runs.

Picking a recognised bowler which does not bowl their full allocation of four overs is a waste, so it makes sense to drop one of the five-pronged attack which played in the first T20.

England won the second Test at the Wankhede Stadium and it is 6/4 that they follow up with a T20 success on the same ground, with Root 5/1 to be their top runscorer.

India are 8/15 to confirm series victory in Mumbai and if they are to triumph, they will be hoping for another match-winning performance from Yuvraj Singh.

Yuvraj’s 3-19 with the ball brought about the England middle-order collapse, while his 38 runs put India well on the way to victory.

He is 8/1 favourite to claim the man of the match honours for the second successive game.

All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date