'David Warner will be the key in India series'

England's performances in the last couple of games that they have played and won is perhaps an indication of the potential of this team. It also tells you how well the Indian team played in the first two one-day internationals to beat the visitors in the matches that went down to the wire. Even the third game was decided in the final over of the match. England are the runners-up in the T20 format and they showed just why with the comprehensive win over India in the first match of the T20 series. India need to get plenty right if they are to stay in the series and not lose it at Nagpur. The batsmen will have to play as long as they can instead of the cameos that were seen in Kanpur and more substantial partnerships are required too.

India, especially its support staff will also have kept one eye on the happenings in New Zealand where Bangladesh played a series recently and in Australia where the Pakistanis have had the rough end of the stick. That is because after the Englishmen go back it will be a one-off Test against Bangladesh and then a four Test series against the Australians.

Bangladesh may have lost the Test series but their performances especially that of Shakib al Hasan was one that will give them plenty of hope when they come down to India and play in conditions similar to home. India will do well not to take them lightly else they could be in for a surprise like they were in the ICC World Twenty20 where the attempt at personal glory rather than a team win by Bangladesh batsmen allowed India to steal a win.

India definitely won't take the Australians lightly despite all the noise coming from former Australian stars that their team has little chance in the four Test series in India. The Australians will fight till the last as always and if they get a foot in the door then they are capable of pushing it wide open.

David Warner will be the key and his form has been terrific especially in the ongoing Australian season where he seems to be reeling off hundreds at will. It's not just the runs but the pace at which he gets them that makes him such a dangerous opponent. If he gets going in India then the Australians will get off to a flyer and the pressure will be on the home team.

In South Africa, Sri Lanka have dealt with the disrespect shown to them by the Proteas picking a second strength team in the only way any team should, by beating them and winning the T20 series. The Australians also play a T20 series at home against the Lankans next month while their main players including skipper Steve Smith, David Warner, Mitchell Starc will be in India for the Test series. The Lankans will be wanting to do to the Aussies what they did to the Proteas and if skipper Angelo Matthews is fit then they will be even more stronger.

The point is that if the T20 internationals are going to be treated like this by some cricket Boards, then why play them at all and why not just stick to the franchise based events like IPL, Big Bash, Ram Slam, etc?

David Warner for his back to back centuries in the one-day series against Pakistan is the CEAT International Cricketer of the Week.

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