This page will update live with the latest relevant news, no need to refresh the page!
England retaliated after conceding the first two matches to keep the series alive. Given the power-packed batting units you expected run-fests but it has been far from the case in the series hitherto. Bowlers, spinners in particular, have dictated terms. Will the trend be bucked in Pune? Or will the ball continue to outshine to bat? Hello and welcome to the fourth T20I.
The fireworks go off at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune as the hosts win the series with a game to spare. A game that had its fair share of twists and turns ends in India’s lap. England were bossing the contest at 62/1 around the culmination of the PowerPlay and were in with a shout at 129/4 when half-centurion Harry Brook was anchoring the chase, but India held their composure to come out on top.
Their knowledge of the conditions did come in handy and the introduction of Dubey into the side to upset Rashid worked like a charm. Rana, who replaced Dubey in the second innings after the southpaw copped a blow on the head, picked up three crucial wickets to derail England’s pursuit.
”I have been waiting for an opportunity for a long time and I wanted to prove I belong here.” Rana remarks. He certainly does! No arguing against that.
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧. 𝗔. 𝗪𝗜𝗡! 👏 👏#TeamIndia held their composure & sealed a 1⃣5⃣-run victory in the 4th T20I to bag the series, with a game to spare! 🙌 🙌
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/pUkyQwxOA3 #INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/Jjz5Cem2US
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 31, 2025
Overton pocketed a boundary off the first ball, was dropped on the third by the wicketkeeper, and eventually made an exit on the last.
An eventful over that, with Overton deciding to play all the deliveries himself by declining the single. He is the better ball-striker as compared to Rashid so not much to complain about that brave call, even if it didn’t pay off in the end. Yes, Rashid did hit a six earlier but sometimes you have to back yourself to clear the rope in these crunch situations and Overtook took on the responsibility. Alas, it wasn’t his day today!
Well, it is Rashid who connects to fetch the only boundary of the third last over, bowled by Arshdeep. Nice execution of his plans by the left-armer to keep the damage down to 11 runs.
Archer rocks back to cut and gets an under-edge that deflects onto his stumps. What a fine spell this has been from Bishnoi, comprising the wicket of dangermen Buttler and Duckett.
Buttler wore a disappointing look in the England camp when the umpires approved the swap of Dubey and Rana. The speed merchant has now picked his second wicket, with wunderkind Jacob Bethell early into his lofted shot.
Harshit Rana strikes once more, dismissing Jacob Bethell for just 6.
Join us at: https://t.co/hmWsFksM8P#INDvsENG #englandcricket #IndianCricket #india #england #T20Cricket #harshitrana #bethel #CricketTwitter #Pune pic.twitter.com/HphyJm0o8x
— Guerilla Cricket #GCFromHome (@guerillacricket) January 31, 2025
Brook falls immediately after accomplishing his half-century and his departure is tailgated by that of Brydon Carse.
Brook vs Varun this series
3 inngs
16 balls
26 runs
3 dismissals
Bat SR 162.50
The supremely talented Brook has flown from 29(18) to 47(24).
6 – Straying onto the pads and Brook uses Rana’s pace and angle to flick dexterously over long-leg.
6 – Lusty blow! Pace-off and in the slot, Brook budges leg-side and allows himself room to free his arms. Holds his shape and launches it over long-off.
4 – Seemed to be another slower delivery, Brook backs away, crouches low and sizzles the cut over backward point.
Equation: 58 runs | 36 balls
Harry Brook has found the fence occasionally to keep the scoreboard ticking. England are behind the eight ball and to make matters worse, India now have a gun bowler at their disposal as Harshit Rana replaces Shivam Dubey as a concussion substitute. He has a habit of impressing straightaway, like he did in the first innings of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener at Perth, and he’d done the same here by snuffing out Liam Livingstone in his first over itself.
The jury will be out over whether the genuine fast bowler Rana is a like-for-like substitute for Dubey, who bowls gentle medium pace.
India are storming back into the contest. Three wickets in three overs. Salt and Buttler, who has been England’s best batter in this series, depart in quick sucession after India ended the PowerPlay on a high with the wicket of in-form Duckett.
While Axar sent Salt packing with a typically menacing arm ball, the England skipper edged a cut to short third off Bishnoi. England on the backfoot after a rollicking start to the chase.
One brings two!
Vice-captain Axar Patel strikes! 🙌 🙌
Follow The Match ▶️ https://t.co/pUkyQwxOA3#TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/raV2Rw2wgl
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 31, 2025
Wicket off the ultimate ball of the powerplay, orchestrated by the strategic field setting. There was a deep square leg and deep backward point for Duckett to intercept his sweep and reverse sweep. So, he tries to do something novel and perishes. The googly is slowed up by Ravi Bishnoi and Duckett does not read it, tries to heave across the line and spoons a leading edge to extra cover. Much needed wicket for India as England were rampaging ahead!
The operation of England’s openers is reaffirming the fact that this is a good batting wicket and that India might have left a few runs out in the middle phase. Axar is not a big turner of the ball and he comes round the wicket to avoid bowling into Duckett’s arc, but the southpaw is up to the task. Goes 4,4,6 to drive England past 50 in the PowerPlay.
England have endured shambolically poor starts in this series but not tonight as Phil Salt and Ben Duckett get their act together. The tourists have had the better of the early exchanges as they set out to chase a tall total.
An emphatic show of bouncebackability from the hosts! They were 12 for 3 at the end of the second over, and 72 for 4 at halfway. The lower order bailed them out, with Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube firing fifties to orchestrate the highest team total of the series so far. Saqib Mahmood’s triple wicket-maiden gave England an ideal start, but India have yet given themselves a real shot at victory thanks to their batting might.
Inserted in the middle order to neutralize the threat of Rashid, Dubey has taken the opportunity with both hands. He came in to bat when India were down and out, but in the company of Hardik Pandya yanked them out of choppy waters with some blistering strokeplay.
The death overs were looking ominous from an England standpoint as Hardik hit Overton for a no-look six over long-on and Dubey swivelled and helped the ball on its way to fine leg for a boundary. The over ends with relief for the visitors, however, as Hardik is beaten by the change of pace to depart for 53 off 29 balls. He was 14 off 17 at one point. Switched gears and how!
Hardik Pandya falls after a brilliant 53 off 30 deliveries.
Join us at: https://t.co/cquwlssmfP#INDvsENG #englandcricket #IndianCricket #England #india #hardikpandya #overton #Pune #t20cricket #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/qwroTQbPOj
— Guerilla Cricket #GCFromHome (@guerillacricket) January 31, 2025
Both Hardik and Dubey and very strong down the ground and Archer is serving the ball exactly there, much to England’s chagrin. India have scored 33 runs off the last two overs!
These two hard-hitters will now aim to deliver a finishing kick to India’s improving total.
Hardik greets Mahmood with a maximum as the wrecker of India’s top-order returns to the attack. Follows it up with a powerful pull off a slower change-up even as it had Harry Brook interested for a while in the deep. The sixth wicket partnership is approaching 60 runs.
Dubey is delivering the goods for India by acing his match-up against Rashid. First punished a drag-down from the leggie through mid-wicket and then Rashid overcompensates, with Dubey hammering the loopy tempter downtown for an 80m six. The home team would be patting themselves on the back for this shrewd tactical ploy.
Lays into the bumper, does Hardik. Picks the length early, stands tall and pulls fiercely over wide mid-on.
The short ball was followed by a full delivery outside off and Hardik Pandya has smashed it through extra cover. 11 runs off the over, a productive one for India as they push on despite the rapid fall of wickets.
The red-soil pitch is providing bounce and carry to the England pacers and they are making the most of it. Brydon Carse saw Rinku advance down the pitch and banged the ball in short, hits the splice and produces a wicket.
Rinku Singh departs, marking India's fifth wicket, as England continue to dominate the contest.
Join us at: https://t.co/kE3iBgYzDI#INDvsENG #Englandcricket #IndianCricket #india #England #t20cricket #rinkusingh #brydoncarse #Pune #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/2CMGVgQS0V
— Guerilla Cricket #GCFromHome (@guerillacricket) January 31, 2025
T20 is a fascinating format. Having done their homework, England know Dube’s weakness is pace and they have brought Archer back to counter India’s move. Only four off that over despite a free-hit.
With his cunning pace variations and the ability to get the ball to spin big, Adil Rashid has bowled in miserly fashion this series. Continuing the good work, he gets rid of Abhishek Sharma in his first over.
Unlike Abhishek though, Shivam Dubey manages to get adequate elevation and distance on the slog sweep to clear deep mid-wicket. He has been brought in specifically to take down the leggie, and it’s a positive start on that note for India.
Dubey did get a reprieve in the over though as Buttler failed to hang on to a tough chance.
Rinku Singh and Abhishek Sharma are playing in an aggressive vein in the aftermath of the top-order blowout. Staying still amounts to going backwards in T20 cricket so there is no point in hanging around, India reckon.
Triple wicket maiden for the quick. India are suddenly in shambles. Sanju Samson was cramped up into submission once again by England, Tilak Verma fell to an overambitious shot while captain Suryakumar Yadav, eager to get going, whipped the ball straight to mid-wicket after defending three balls in a row. Dream start for Mahmood; where were England hiding him up until this point?
The second over is the joint earliest a bowler has claimed a triple wicket maiden in T20I history alongside Jerome Taylor, who accomplished the remarkable feat in South Africa in Gqeberha in 2007.
Sanju Samson struggles against pace once again.
Join us at: https://t.co/WcVwAe9wI5#INDvsENG #englandcricket #IndianCricket #india #England #T20Cricket #sanjusamson #saqibmahmood #Pune #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/E6xsBH1cxo
— Guerilla Cricket #GCFromHome (@guerillacricket) January 31, 2025
The young southpaw went after the express quick in the series opener, rendering him to forgettable figures of 4-0-60-1. He’s attacking Archer again as India get off to a flier. Six and a four to finish the over.
