NEW DELHI: India secured a dramatic 15-run victory over England in the 4th T20I in Pune on January 31, 2025, clinching the series with an unassailable 3-1 lead. The thrilling encounter saw India recover from a perilous position to post 181/9 in 20 overs, thanks to explosive half-centuries from Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube.
England, chasing 182, looked poised for a successful pursuit after a blazing 62-run powerplay partnership between Ben Duckett and Phil Salt. However, India’s spinners wrestled the momentum back with a series of crucial wickets. Ravi Bishnoi dismissed Duckett off the last ball of the powerplay, and Axar Patel followed up by removing Salt. The Indian spinners continued to dominate, with Bishnoi taking the big wicket of Jos Buttler, and Varun Chakravarthy further denting England’s hopes with timely breakthroughs.
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India’s initial struggles were evident as they lost three quick wickets in the second over, leaving them at 12/3. Saqib Mahmood’s rare triple-wicket maiden, which saw the dismissal of Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, and Suryakumar Yadav, had India in deep trouble. However, Pandya and Dube’s recovery ensured the hosts would post a challenging total. Pandya’s rapid 53 off 34 balls, including a blistering 27-ball half-century, and Dube’s unbeaten 50 off 30 balls steered India to a respectable total.
Controversy surrounded Harshit Rana’s introduction as a concussion substitute for Shivam Dube, but the bowler made an immediate impact, returning figures of 3/33, including a pivotal dismissal of Harry Brook. The final moments saw England’s tail collapse under pressure as Arshdeep Singh sealed the victory with a key wicket, ensuring India’s series win.
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With this victory, India extended their dominant home record, maintaining an unbeaten streak in their last 17 T20I series. England, despite their valiant efforts, could not chase down the target, leaving India with a well-deserved series triumph.