India clinch series in dramatic fashion as England bite the dust in Pune

It was a dramatic battle in Pune that saw India and England duke it out emphatically in the 4th T20I of the five-match series. However, at the end of all the drama and entertainment the hosts successfully pocketed the series, securing an unassailable lead of 3-1 with a game to spare. Winning the toss, England decided to bowl and India had an early bother to brave.

Apart from Abhishek Sharma (29), the other three Indian top-order batters were back in the hut even before the wheels could be moved. Sanju Samson (1), Tilak Varma (0) and Suryakumar Yadav (0) returning early to the pavilion reduced India to 12/3. It was the returning Rinku Singh who stabilized the ship with Sharma but the resistance didn’t really help India’s cause.

Wobbling at 79/5, India found two heroes in Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube, the latter being the replacement for an injured Nitish Kumar Reddy. Dube (53) and Hardik Pandya (53) propelled India to a solid position, providing the all-important platform for a fine finish.

Riding high on the shoulders of the Dube-Pandya duo, India posted 181/9. Saquib Mahmood was the pick of the lot with figures of 3/35 while Jamie Overton bagged a brace to conclude the proceedings.

England got off to a rollicking start with Phil Salt blasting 23 while he had apt support from Ben Duckett smashing 39 (19). However, once the opening duo fell with Axar Patel and Ravi Bishnoi providing breakthroughs, that was the moment which India desperately craved for.

With Harry Brook (51) reigning supreme at one end, India targeted the other. Ravi Bishnoi and Harshit Rana chimed in with crucial performances which left England reeling. Jamie Overton did come up with a significant 19 towards the end but the Indian spinning supremacy was way too overwhelming as England crumbled under the pump.

India pocketed the series with a 15-run win against England, making it 3-1 with a game to spare. Shivam Dube was awarded the Player of the Match for his phenomenal performance, pulling the Indian engine out of trouble when it mattered the most.