India Secures Series Win With Hard-Fought Victory Over England
India bounced back from a shaky start to post a strong total and eventually sealed a 15-run victory against England in the fourth T20I in Pune. Despite losing three wickets for just 12 runs, half-centuries from Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube helped the T20 World Champions build a competitive score. India’s bowlers, after an expensive powerplay, fought back brilliantly to defend their total. With this win, Suryakumar Yadav’s team clinched the five-match series 3-1 with one game to spare.
A Tough Start, A Strong Finish
Batting first after losing the toss, India got off to a disastrous start. Saqib Mahmood rattled the top order, reducing India to 12/3 with a brilliant spell, including a maiden over. Sanju Samson fell while attempting a pull shot, Tilak Varma was dismissed for a golden duck, and Suryakumar Yadav also departed in the same over, leaving the crowd in stunned silence.
Abhishek Sharma (29 off 19) and Rinku Singh tried to rebuild, but Adil Rashid and Brydon Carse struck to remove both batters before they could cause much damage. At 79/5 in the 11th over, India was in deep trouble.
That’s when Pandya and Dube took charge, stitching together a crucial 87-run partnership. Pandya smashed 53 off 30 balls with four fours and as many sixes, while Dube matched his score with a 34-ball knock featuring two sixes and seven fours. Pandya fell just before the death overs, and Dube was run out on the last ball, but their efforts helped India post 181/9.
Among England’s bowlers, Mahmood (3/35) was the most successful, while Jamie Overton (2/32) and Rashid (1/35) chipped in with key wickets.
England’s Chase Falls Short
England got off to a flying start, with Ben Duckett smashing a quickfire 39 off 19 balls, including seven fours and a six. However, Ravi Bishnoi removed him on the last ball of the powerplay, breaking a 62-run opening stand.
Axar Patel then bowled Phil Salt, while Bishnoi sent Jos Buttler back cheaply, leaving England struggling after losing three wickets in five runs.
The middle order collapsed further as debutant Harshit Rana dismissed Liam Livingstone and Jacob Bethell before they could settle. Harry Brook tried to keep England in the fight with a battling 51 off 34 balls (two sixes, five fours), but Varun Chakravarthy’s crucial strike ended his resistance.
Overton (19) and Rashid (10*) tried to reduce the margin of defeat, but India’s bowlers wrapped up the innings at 166 in 19.4 overs. Bishnoi (3/28) and Rana (3/33) were the standout performers, while Axar, Varun, and Arshdeep Singh also contributed with crucial wickets.
Match Summary
- India: 181/9 in 20 overs (Dube 53, Pandya 53, Abhishek 29; Mahmood 3/35, Overton 2/32)
- England: 166 in 19.4 overs (Brook 51, Duckett 39; Bishnoi 3/28, Rana 3/33)
Result: India won by 15 runs
Series: India leads 3-1 in the five-match series
Player of the Match: Shivam Dube
What’s Next?
With the series already decided, the fifth and final T20I will be played in Mumbai on Sunday.
