NEW DELHI: The ruthlessness England displayed in winning the first T20I against India means the hosts will have to put their best resources into use and be on the top of their game to win the five-match series, believes former India batsman VVS Laxman.
The hosts will take on England in the second T20I in Ahmedabad on Sunday, after a one-sided eight-wicket defeat in the first match.
Writing in his column for The Times of India on Sunday, Laxman said the visitors have put the Test series loss behind them and look charged up for the white-ball leg of the tour.

“Already, it is clear that the diffidence and hesitancy of the Test series is behind them,” Laxman mentioned in the column. “A true surface with good pace and carry helped them execute their plans with authority, though they will be the first to admit they received generous assistance from India.”
India could only manage a paltry 124 thanks to the pace battery of England, led by Jofra Archer, that deflated the Indian batting line-up, which was without Rohit Sharma.

(India lost the first T20I by 8 wickets – AP Photo)
Laxman felt it wasn’t the right decision to rest the in-form India opener.
“Especially when you are playing the best team in the world, it’s imperative to put out your strongest side. While the idea of giving game-time to Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul is laudable, the in-form Rohit Sharma should have played in the opening game. I’d love to see Rohit return to the side immediately,” wrote Laxman.

Laxman was also in disagreement with India’s choice of three spinners in the first T20I played on a surface that had a lot of carry.
“I think India also got their bowling combination wrong,” Laxman said.
“Even though Hardik Pandya has started bowling, they would have been better off with an additional seamer instead of a third spinner. There was no dew on Friday night; but listening to both the captains at the toss, it was clear they were wary of dew as the match went deeper.
“In any case, this track bore no resemblance to the dry deck on offer for the Test matches in Ahmedabad, so the extra spinner was almost superfluous,” he added.

He suggested that Indian batsmen will have to strategise their Powerplay approach and options.
“There can’t be one template for all. While there has been talk of conservatism in the way India have gone about things in the Powerplay, it’s a formula that has worked for them. By going against their grain and trying to tee off from the beginning, India didn’t do themselves any favours,” Laxman wrote.
The veteran, who retired after playing 134 Tests and 86 ODIs, said India will have to “raise their game” considerably to put up a fight in the series.
“India have reiterated their ability to bounce back more than once in the recent past, but England’s ruthlessness with the bat and their bowling brilliance will require Virat Kohli’s men to raise their game significantly over the next week.”