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In what could be regarded as a match of the tour, India defeated England by a close margin of 15 runs in the fourth T20I played on January 31st, 2025 at the Sardar Patel Stadium, Pune. They were successful in chasing the target and beat England to clinch the series in the last but one ball to make it seven series on the trot where they had supremacy over England in the T20Is. sustaining early blows, the Indians scored a useful total of 181 for 4 and with all-round efforts, they successfully defended the score to claim the series 3—1 with the final match still due to be played.
1. A Dramatic Turnaround: India’s Initial Struggles
Thus, a general understanding of the team’s path to victory in this match can be described as not entirely smooth, for a long time the Indian players were in a rather devastating situation. Inhabitants of the bat, India total collapsed to a paltry 12 of 3 in first few overs after the start of the match due to a special initiation by England’s bowler Saqib Mahmood. Mahmood, in his first game of the series look dangerous and took a triple-wicket maiden over which really put India on the backs foot. His accurate and precise deliveries crippled the Indian top-order and it was on the middle and lower order to make the fight.
But the Indian team did not step down easy since the early days experienced some difficulties and challenges. Opener Abhishek Sharma and Rinku Singh could not be bothered and hit back by aggressively attacking the English bowlers. It even gave the team much-needed boost when they was struggling to gather many wickets in a group quickly. However, when the score was set as 79/5, it could be said that the match was a very tight one for India to win.
2. A Stellar Partnership: Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube Step Up
Because of the team’s failure, Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube came into the party in grand style. Sehwag and Gambhir displayed enormous interest and concentration and this helped India to overcome the set back which they suffered in the early part of the match. Dube in particular rose to the occasion and came up with a good knock of a fifty under pressure. Pandya was equally good and getting into the T20 mood of the team with the typical flair and striking abilities of taking India to a decent total.
Both Pandya and Dube were effective in partnership with the bat and more importantly in putting the innings back on track after a disastrous start. Together they made 102 for the fourth wicket and brought the Indian team close to the total scored in the end, 181. This partnership proved the strength of India’s batting and how their players can come back to bowl when under pressure at some point.
Despite seamer Mahmood, England’s bowlers surrendered the game when they lost early hour after having India in a spot of bother, but the Indians successfully upped the scoring rate towards the end of the match. However, it wasn’t without drama. Then, a short pitched delivery from Overton in the last over of the match hit the helmet of Dube on the head and he had to come off the ground because of concussion. When Dube was knocked out by a concussion, his substitute, Harshit Rana, was able to add good scoring at the end of the team’s inning.
3. England’s Strong Start, But India Holds Firm
A target of 182 to chase was not impossible as opener Phil Salt, along with Ben Duckett, went on an attacking mode. Mark and Alistair posted a partnership of 60s in the first wicket which paved a way for England team. Its mission being accomplished for a while, Salt’s solidity paired with Duckett’s great stroke making put the Indian spinners on the back foot. England was on the ascendancy as they had been scoring at a brisk pace without much effort on the rate coming down.
However, it came as a relief for India when Bishnoi bowled out Duckett in the last ball of the powerplay. It set the trail for a collapse as the English struggled to 65 for three by the 7th over and by the 7.3, had lost three wickets. The dismissal of Duckett and Moeen Ali slowed down the England’s cricket event and India got the better of the situation.
4. Harshit Rana’s Heroic Contribution
The match was getting more and more interesting and even dramatic when Shivam Dube had to come off the field after being hit on the helmet by Overton’s bouncer. Cricketer Harshit Rana, who came to bowl in place of concussion substitute Dube, immediately bowled sensationally and took wickets for India. His arrival meant that England’s dangerous man-in-form, Liam Livingstone was dismissed at the right time, to the advantage of the Australians.
Rana’s 3 wickets that involved Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, and Jamie Overton in particular contributed a lot. A well-apply and timely line and lengths by his bowling also make sure that England did not gain any momentum in the last overs of their batting. Rana’s contribution did not only shock the England side but it also elicited some controversy since the replacement of Dube by Rana was a rather interesting change. During the post-match press conference, England’s captain Jos Buttler voiced his frustration with the playing XI stating it had not been the like-for-like replacement to have Rana in the side.
However, Rana’s bowing performance may be seen as crucial for the team as he ensured that England did not get the necessary fluency that could have been handy for them in building a bigger lead. The last few overs were close and with Indian bowlers building a good bowling line, the English side could not achieve victory in a chase.
5. England’s Final Push: Harry Brook’s Fight Back
England’s middle order or Harry Brook or any other batsman did not surrender so easily. Another promising knock came from Brook who scored a quick fire fifty in just 25 balls which kept England’s hope alive. Some of the powerful placement of the ball against the India’s spinners were indicative of his aggressive attitude when taking on the opposition. However, his alliance with Brydon Cares was rather limited as both the batsmen got out in quick succession.
Brook played very well as far as fighting was concerned, but the pressure of chasing such target along with the Indian bowling which was amazingly disciplined, took a toll on them. England was handicapped after they lost Brook early on, entered the Indian radar and followed by Carse, missing out on a great chance of a victory.
6. The Final Over and India’s Victory
When 19 runs were needed in the last two overs, England remained in the competition, however, all the odds were against them now being in favour of India. During the course of the match, Harshit Rana showed superb performance, especially in the penultimate over, which was a crackers one and put the English side under tremendous pressure. His consistent and precise bowling display put pressure on England and then produce a situation that you are perforce cut it short, something that England failed to do, they needed 19 runs in the last over.
However, England’s tail could not handle the pressure and the Indian bowlers got England all out for a total of 166 two balls shy of the end of the match giving India a fifteen run win. The victory did also help India to clinch the series and also meant that India continues with its series winning streak against England in the format for the seventh consecutive year.
7. What This Victory Means for India
This victory for India was not just a testimony to isolated individual performance but a fine team performance in all aspect of the game. All the players from the moment of the early collapse to Pandya and Dube spirited fight back and the wickets taken by Harshit Rana were really contributing factors. Winning this match also made India 3-1 ahead in any case in a planned five match series and that was a good performance at home soil.
Thus this series win for India reinforce the assessment of strength demonstrated by the team in T20 format and their performances under pressure. RSA have been the underperformers again while the win strengthens India’s position as one of the strongest sides in T20Is.
