England choose to bowl as India face T20 World Cup decider in 2026

England won the toss and chose to bowl first in the deciding T20I against India at Taunton, with both teams preparing for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Toss and team changes England won the toss and elected to field first, sending India in to bat in the third and final T20I at Taunton. This match serves as both teams' last competitive game before the T20 World Cup, which begins in ten days. England has made no changes to their lineup, having secured a 26-run victory in Bristol last Saturday to even the series. India, on the other hand, has brought back right-arm pacer Kranti Gaud, who claimed two wickets during their 38-run win at Chelmsford earlier in the series, while offspinner Shreyanka Patil has been left out. ## Weather and playing conditions The match is set to commence under cloudy but bright skies, with no rain expected and a strong westerly breeze sweeping across the ground. These conditions could influence batting and bowling strategies as both sides aim to fine-tune their preparations for the global tournament. The weather conditions remained consistent throughout the day, providing optimal visibility for players and spectators alike. ## England's starting XI England's playing XI for the decider includes Sophia Dunkley, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Amy Jones (wicketkeeper), Alice Capsey, Heather Knight, Freya Kemp, Dani Gibson, Charlie Dean (captain), Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, and Lauren Bell. The unchanged side reflects confidence after their previous victory, with Dean leading the team in search of a series win. Ecclestone and Bell provide strong bowling options as England looks to defend their total effectively. ## India's playing XI with Gaud's return India's lineup features Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Jemima Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, N Shree Charani, and Nandani Sharma. Gaud returns to the attack after her impactful performance in the second T20I, while Patil has been omitted following the team's win in Chelmsford. The inclusion of Gaud adds depth to India's pace bowling arsenal as they aim to claim the series.