The first match of the five-match series was played at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street, where India won the toss and decided to bat first. They batted for the full 20 overs and scored 189 runs for the loss of seven wickets. Shreyas Iyer was the top scorer with 68 runs off 47 balls, while Abhishek Sharma made an impact with 59 runs in just 24 balls. Shivam Dube also provided a strong finish in the final overs, scoring 42 runs off 21 balls. For England, Saqib Mahmood turned out to be the standout bowler, taking three wickets in his four overs.

However, after the innings break, the match could not continue because of a rain interruption and ended in a no result. So, both India and England are currently tied at 0-0 and will now be aiming for a strong performance in the remaining matches of the T20I series.

The match will be played in the afternoon under sunlight and will begin at 2:30 p.m. BST and 7:00 p.m. IST. Let's look at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground pitch report and weather conditions.

Where is Old Trafford Cricket Ground and what is it known for?

Old Trafford Ground, commercially known as Emirates Old Trafford, is one of the most historic cricket venues in England. It is located in Trafford, Greater Manchester, and was established in 1857. It is the home ground of Lancashire County Cricket Club and is England's second-oldest Test venue after The Oval.

The venue has hosted more than 80 Test matches since its first international fixture in 1884. It also holds the record for hosting the most Cricket World Cup matches, with 17 games, and the most semi-finals, with five, across multiple editions of the tournament.

The ground is also known for the typical Manchester weather. In fact, it remains the only ground in England where a Test match has been completely abandoned without a single ball being bowled, which happened in 1890 and again in 1938.

The highest T20I team score at this venue belongs to England, who posted 199 runs against Pakistan in 2020.

What is the pitch like at Old Trafford Cricket Ground?

Historically, the Old Trafford surface has been slightly slower and lower compared to some of the quicker and bouncier tracks in the south of England. That characteristic makes it a venue where spinners can heavily influence the game, especially as the pitch starts to wear down.

At the same time, the short straight boundaries still give power-hitters plenty of opportunities to clear the ropes and score quickly. So, while the pitch can assist bowlers at different stages of the game, batters who settle in can also make the most of the conditions.

Is the Old Trafford Cricket Ground pitch batting- or bowling-friendly?

If we look at T20 cricket, the pitch at Old Trafford can be considered batting-friendly, especially in the first innings. It usually offers good bounce, and the ball comes onto the bat nicely, which allows batters to play their shots freely. The short straight boundaries also help power-hitters score quickly.

However, the surface can become a little tricky in the second innings. As the pitch slows down, spinners start to get more assistance and can trouble the batters. That is why chasing can sometimes become difficult at this venue, especially if the team batting first puts up a strong total.

So overall, Old Trafford can be called a batting-friendly pitch in T20s, but one where bowlers, especially spinners, can also play a major role later in the game.

Key Stats and Records at Old Trafford Cricket Ground

The first-ever T20I played at Old Trafford was between England and New Zealand in 2008. The most recent T20I at this venue before this series was played in September 2025 between England and South Africa.

Interestingly, before the England vs South Africa match, no team had managed to score more than 200 runs in a T20I at this venue. However, last year, a 300-run innings was witnessed here when England smashed 304 runs in just 20 overs against the Proteas.

Talking about individual records, Jos Buttler, who is part of this series, is one of the top scorers at this venue. In seven T20I matches at Old Trafford, he has scored 202 runs at a strike rate of 166.94.

In T20Is, the average first-innings score at this ground is around 161 to 165 runs, while the average second-innings score is somewhere between 122 and 140 runs.

How Important is the Toss at Old Trafford Cricket Ground?

At this venue, teams batting first have won four matches, while chasing teams have won six times. Interestingly, four T20Is at this ground have also been abandoned because of Manchester rain.

The toss can be quite influential here because the match conditions often change across the innings. Captains may be tempted to bowl first because of the fresh pitch and possible cloud cover, but batting first can also be a very good option, especially in a day game like this one.

Since this match between India and England is an afternoon game, the team batting first can look to make the most of the hard and fresh surface and put up a big total. Later in the game, the pitch can start slowing down a little, which may bring the spinners into play. So, winning the toss could be important, but batting first looks like a slightly better option in these conditions.

Weather Forecast: Will Rain Play a Role?

According to AccuWeather, the temperature in Manchester during the afternoon is expected to be around 21°C, with a 55% probability of rain. Humidity is likely to be around 68%, while cloud cover could go up to 85%.

Even during the evening, there remains a 55% chance of rain along with high humidity. As always, Manchester weather can be very unpredictable, so there is a real possibility of rain affecting the match at some stage.

IND vs ENG: Pitch Advantage for Which Side?

If the pitch behaves like a batting paradise, India could have a slight advantage, especially if they win the toss and bat first. India have a strong batting line-up full of stroke-makers who can use the short straight boundaries and take full advantage of a good batting surface.

Also, as the afternoon match progresses and the pitch starts to dry out, it could bring India's spin attack into the game. India have quality spinners like Ravi Bishnoi, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakravarthy, and if they bowl in the second innings, the conditions could suit them well.

On the other hand, if there is cloud cover and some early movement, England's pacers like Saqib Mahmood and Jofra Archer could use the swing and bounce to trouble India's top order in the powerplay.

So overall, India seem to have a slight advantage because of their batting strength and quality spin options, but England's pace attack can be very dangerous if the overhead conditions help them.

Previous Matches Played at This Venue

India and England have played only one T20I at this venue, back in 2018 during India's tour of England. It was the first T20I of that series, where England scored 159 runs, and India chased it down with ease. Kuldeep Yadav was the player of the match after taking five wickets, while KL Rahul scored an unbeaten century, finishing with 101 not out.

Recently, two domestic T20 matches have also been played at this venue. One was between Lancashire and Leicestershire, where Lancashire scored 145 runs, and the target was chased down in 19.5 overs after the chasing side lost eight wickets. It turned out to be a low-scoring thriller.

The second match was between Lancashire and Nottinghamshire, where Lancashire scored 198 runs batting first, but Nottinghamshire failed to chase the target and were restricted to 169 runs.

FAQs: Old Trafford Cricket Ground Pitch Report for IND vs ENG 2nd T20I
Q. What is the pitch report for Old Trafford Cricket Ground for today's match? A. Since the match is happening in the afternoon, the pitch is expected to be fresh and could help the fast bowlers in the early overs. As the match progresses, the surface may start slowing down a little, which can bring the spinners into the game. So, the pitch is likely to assist both pacers and spinners at different stages of the match. Q. Who has a better record at Old Trafford Cricket Ground? A. India and England have played only one T20I at this venue, back in 2018, and India won that match. So, if we talk only about the head-to-head record between these two teams at Old Trafford, India has a better record here. Q. How does the pitch change across the innings? A. The pitch is expected to be good for batting in the early stages, especially in the first innings. If there is cloud cover, the fast bowlers could also get some movement initially. As the match moves forward, the surface may slow down, and the spinners can start getting more grip, which could trouble the batters in the second innings. Q. When and where to watch IND vs ENG 2nd T20I? A. The match will be streamed live on Sony LIV and telecast on the Sony Sports Network from 7:00 p.m. IST in India. In England, the match will be telecast live on Sky Sports from 2:30 p.m. BST.