India will be looking to figure out the combinations for clarity over the final XI when they play England in the first of their two warm-up games ahead of the T20 World Cup, in Dubai on Monday.

The non-regulars are expected to be given a chance in these practice matches, though all eyes would be on Hardik Pandya who needs to regain his touch and also prove that he has no fitness issues.

Since the lower-back injury in late 2019, the all-rounder has struggled to hold on to his place in the XI and has hardly been able to bowl. He couldn’t bowl at all in the recently-concluded IPL and what makes the situation tricky for him is his lean patch with the bat as well.

The IPL season didn’t go well for five-time champions Mumbai Indians, and as far as Hardik is concerned, he averaged just 14.11 at a strike rate of 113.39, which wasn’t really impressive. Scoring a decent number of runs against Eoin Morgan and Co. in Monday’s warm-up game should help him feel better even if he’s unable to bowl.

Young Ishan Kishan too will be another player for whom these warm-up games carry significance. In the last few matches of this IPL, he scored some important runs at the top of the order.

It’s unlikely that Kishan would open alongside vice-captain Rohit Sharma in the tournament proper even if he scores big in the practice matches, because KL Rahul, tipped to be the other opener, is in the form of his life. However, impressive showing this week might keep him in India’s scheme of things.

In the bowling department, captain Virat Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri need to work on who could be the quicks alongside automatic choice Jasprit Bumrah and the spinners accompanying Ravindra Jadeja.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar didn’t have too good an IPL campaign for Sunrisers Hyderabad, who finished bottom of the table.

He would obviously bank on these practice games to regain a bit of rhythm. Bhuvneshwar was at his accurate best in the white-ball matches versus England earlier this year. And if he does find his rhythm, it would benefit India hugely as well as ease the pressure on Bumrah.

What also would be interesting to see is how Kolkata Knight Riders spinner Varun Chakravarthy fares if included in these two matches.