India defeated England by 15 runs in the fourth T20I of the five-match series in Pune on Friday. This win gave India an invincible 3-1 lead after four matches. All-rounders Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya set the tone with half-centuries, and then the bowlers took charge, finishing the job with ease.

India's Bowlers Step Up

India’s bowlers took control during England’s chase. Harshit Rana, replacing the injured Shivam Dube, played a crucial role in the final overs. His presence gave India a significant advantage. England started strong with a 62-run partnership between Philip Salt (23 off 21 balls) and Ben Duckett (39 off 19 balls). However, Ravi Bishnoi struck first, dismissing Duckett in the 6th over. From then on, India began to build momentum, taking wickets at regular intervals. Jos Buttler, England’s captain, was dismissed cheaply for just 2 runs, also by Bishnoi in the 8th over.

Brook Fights Back, But England Falls Short

Harry Brook (51 off 26 balls) put up a strong fight, keeping England’s hopes alive with his fiery knock. Nevertheless, Varun Chakravarthy broke the partnership by removing Brook in the 15th over. Although Jamie Overton (19 off 15 balls) and Adil Rashid (10* off 6 balls) tried to push the chase in the final overs, their efforts were not enough. India’s bowlers remained calm and ensured the victory.

Bowling Highlights

Ravi Bishnoi and Harshit Rana were the standout bowlers for India, each claiming three wickets. In addition, Varun Chakravarthy contributed with two wickets. Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel each took one wicket, further strengthening India’s position.

India Struggles Early

Earlier, India’s batting faced difficulties. After winning the toss, England opted to bowl first, and their decision paid off. They quickly reduced India to 12/3. Saqib Mahmood was outstanding, taking three wickets in the second over, including a maiden, which is rare in men’s T20 internationals.

Pandya and Dube’s Key Partnership

India rebuilt through a 45-run stand between Abhishek Sharma (29 off 19 balls) and Rinku Singh (30 off 26 balls). However, both were dismissed. At this point, Hardik Pandya (53 off 30 balls) stepped up, scoring a crucial half-century. Alongside Shivam Dube (53 off 34 balls), who also contributed with a vital fifty, they helped India reach a total of 181/9. India posted 181/9, while England managed 166 in their chase. Bishnoi’s impressive three-wicket haul was the turning point, guiding India to a well-earned victory.

Brief Scorecard