Ahmedabad, March 17: Team India take on England in the fourth T20I to be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday (March 18) and is going to be a must-win game for the Indians to keep themselves alive in the five-match series.
England had beaten India in the third match by 8 wickets to take a 2-1 lead, and one more win can see them beating India in a T20I series for the first time.
The Virat Kohli-led Indian side will have to put their best foot forward and the most important amongst them is a better batting show from the top-order.KL Rahul, who has made 1, 0, 0 in three matches. Skipper Kohli and batting coach Vikram Rathour have expressed their support to Rahul.
Yuzvendra Chahal has taken a wicket each in three matches but has conceded 44, 34 and 41 runs in his four overs in those matches. His form is also going to be a concern for the Indian side.
England are mighty pleased to see the belligerent fifty made by Jos Buttler, who failed to convert the start in the first two matches. The visitors will be hoping for another force effort from the opener to seal the series.
Fast bowler Mark Wood, despite a costly over at death against Virat Kohli, inflicted heavy damage at the top dismissing KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma. If they hit the strap, England will be in a strong position.
Here are the updates from the 4th T20I:
Eoin Morgan | Losing skipper: It's definitely been the closest game so far and India played much better and thoroughly deserve the win. There was a lot more dew throughout the game and the game ebbed and flowed a lot. The swing and momentum of the game went back to India and the the last over made it interesting. We are just trying to learn as much as we can in this series. The progression to the World Cup in seven months is important. We were very happy at the half way stage knowing that dew was around. The ball didn't turn much and we were in control. In overs 16 and 17 we lost three wickets in eight balls and that set us back. It just leaves too much for the bowlers against a top quality side. Bairstow and Stokes got themselves in. Starting fresh isn't easy, but they managed to negate that. Their experience took over and they took their options. Frustrating though then in the end to not get through despite the experience we have. We really want to play in must-win games like these. Certainly all to play for now. Playing away from home and winning will be great.
Shardul Thakur: There was a lot of dew in this match, which wasn't true of the last three matches. They were swinging hard in the last over, and it was important to bowl a couple of dot balls and then the game was sealed. The dry ball worked for them, and when I tried a slow bouncer it was in the slot and it went for six. If we bowled the slow ones on the stumps it would've been easy to hit, so the target was to keep it away from their power zone. If the ball is drier, it's easier to grip for the knuckle ball. I am enjoying myself, and bowling in times when batsmen are going hard at us. Hardik had some plans but Rohit just wanted me to back my instinct. He mentioned one side of the ground is shorter and just asked me to keep it in mind and asked me to apply myself.
This is the first time that a team has defended a total in this series.
INDIA WIN!!! Shardul Thakur held his nerves as he managed to defend 22. India beat England by 8 runs and level series 2-2.
Wicket! Chris Jordan gives a simple catch to Hardik at long-off. England need 9 off 1.
Wide, Wide! Back-to-back wide balls from Shardul. He's under pressure.
SIXXX! Jofra Archer holes it out and dispatches way back into the stands for a maximum. 12 off last three for England, they are still in the game.
Four! Jofra Archer hits Thakur over long-on and gets a boundary. Poor delivery from Thakur as he missed the length.
Shardul Thakur bowls the final over. Starts with a single on the first delivery. 22 needed off 5!
Four! Jofra Archer gets a boundary on the final ball of Bhuvneshwar's over. 10 came from it. England - 163/7 in 19 overs. England need 23 to win from 6 balls.
Wicket! Sam Curran tries to slog sweep the slower one from Hardik and chops it on to the stumps. Curran departs for 3 and Hardik gets a wicket on the final delivery of his quota of 4 overs. Finishes with 4-0-16-2 - this is the best bowling figure for India. England - 153/7 in 18 overs.
150 comes up for England in 17.2 overs, they have lost 6 wickets in the process.
Sloppy fielding from Rishabh Pant and Rohit Sharma costs an extra run to India in the overthrow.
2 Wickets and 7 runs came from that over bowled by Shardul Thakur. England reach 147/6 in 17 overs. Chris Jordan and Sam Curran are in the middle for the tourists.
WICKET!! Eoin Morgan tries to hit Shardul Thakur over cover and Washington Sundar pouches it in the deep. Morgan goes for 4. Shardul is on a HAT-TRICK England - 140/6 in 16.2 overs.
Wicket! Ben Stokes fails to clear the off-cutter from Shardul Thakur and Suryakumar takes the catch at long-off. Stokes departs after quickfire 46. England - 140/5 in 16.1 overs.
8 runs came from that over bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar. England reach 140/4 in 16 overs.
Four!! SSstokkkessss!! Superb shot from the all-rounder as he hits towards long-on to get a boundary off Bhuvneshwar. 45 off 21 balls already for Stokes.
After 15 overs England are 132/4. They still have captain Morgan and dangerous Stokes in the middle and the last three overs have been exceedingly well for the tourists.
Wicket! Jonny Bairstow tries to slice the turning ball from Rahul Chahar and Washington Sundar pouches it comfortably at point. Bairstow's knock of 19-ball 25 comes to an end. England - 131/4 in 14.5 overs.
SIX!!! Ben Stokes hits Rahul Chahar over covers for a maximum. The dew is making it tough for the tweakers to bowl. England are cruising at the moment. 10 runs already came in this over for the tourists.
Four, SIX, Four!!! Jonny Bairstow has taken on the offensive against Sundar as he's hammered the off-spinner. Sundar has already leaked 50 runs.
SIX!! A maximum to end the over. Stokes launches it over deep midwicket to send it into the stands. England at 91 for 3 after 12 overs
FOUR! Stokes gets away as Iyer can't get to it at deep midwicket and it races away to the boundary ropes
OUT! Pandya gets a wicket as Suryakumar Yadav takes it at deep midwicket to send Jason Roy back for 40 off 27. Ben Stokes in next. England at 66/3 after 9 overs
FOUR! Sundar can't get to it in time as it races away towards the boundary
Hardik Pandya replacing Sharduk Thakur. England need 126 from 72
OUT!! Chahar gets a wicket in his very first over. Googly. Malan has to go as his stumps are knocked to the ground. Malan goes for 14 off 17. England at 60/2 after 7.5 overs. Bairstow the new man in
Stumping Appeal. Third umpire reviewing it. Decision not out. Malan's safe
Rahul Chahar handed the ball. England at 56/1 after 7 overs