Cricket

India vs England 4th T20 Tips - England to level series at 2-2

By Nikhil Kalro

05 Feb 2025

Nikhil Kalro 05 Feb 2025

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England backed to win 4th T20I to go 2-2 with India
India’s middle order struggled under pressure in the last game
Can the hosts bounce back?

India and England (Getty Images)

India vs England Fourth T20I
India Form
India Team News
England Form
England Team News

India vs England Fourth T20I

England struggled with the bat again in the third T20I against India in Rajkot but came out trumps with the ball as they strangled the hosts on a two-paced pitch to win by 26 runs and pull one back in the series.

Batting first, England lost Phil Salt for yet another single-digit score but Ben Duckett picked up the impetus thereafter with a 28-ball 51 that included seven fours and two sixes.

However, it was a familiar tale of woe against spin as England collapsed miserably from 83 for 1 to 127 for 8 led by Varun Chakravarthy, who finished with 5 for 24 from his four overs.

It was Liam Livingstone’s 43 off 24 balls, however, that carried England to a score of respectability in tricky batting conditions on a surface that got gradually slower as the game progressed.

In response, England managed to get wickets periodically, which put immense pressure on India’s middle order.

Hardik Pandya fought with 40 off 35 balls but it was nowhere near enough as England stifled the hosts, led by Adil Rashid’s terrific figures of 1 for 15 from four overs. Jamie Overton picked up three wickets in his four overs.

India Form

India will not be too concerned yet about their batting form in Rajkot. For the majority of that chase, India were favourites until they were suddenly out of the game.

India will continue to rely on their young and exuberant batting unit to carry them out of this series.

"I think credit goes to Adil bhai, he bowled really well in those overs," India captain Suryakumar Yadav said after the game. "We wanted to rotate strike but he didn't let us. That's why he is a world-class bowler."

India Team News

Mohammad Shami returned to the side after a long injury layoff but did not pick up a wicket in his three overs.

He should keep his place, and maybe even get a full quota of four overs to assess his match fitness for the upcoming ODIs.

India will also look at alternative options to Washington Sundar, plausibly in Shivam Dube and Ramandeep Singh, who are seam-bowling allrounders and offer the hosts just a bit more in the pace department.

England Form

England will certainly be buoyed by beating India in very Indian conditions. That bodes well for the rest of this tour, which now moves to the western side of the country.

The pitches for the remaining matches, in Pune and Mumbai, are expected to be true and friendly for batting, which should further give this England team a bit of confidence, particularly with Rashid in prime form.

"I always say he is the most important player for us," England captain Jos Buttler said of Rashid. "And he always seems to keep getting better. He has got so many different styles of bowling, so much variety. It is one of his great skills.

"In the first couple of balls, he seems to work out exactly how he needs to bowl on a wicket. He is an absolute trump card to have for a captain. And he has been brilliant in the last couple of games."

England Team News

There may be some injury worries for England with Jamie Smith leaving the field in the previous game. There may be some personnel changes as a result.

Verdict

England have already shown a propensity to compete in these conditions despite their batting being shaky. If England get their batting right, you would expect them to put in yet another sparkling performance.

The sportsbooks are favouring India but you could go the other way and take the additional payout with the higher risk on England.

England Win

Match Result

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