IND vs ENG Match Analysis

India and England will play each other in the 4th match of the five-match T20I series on January 31, 2025, at 7:30 PM BST at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune.

India, after an excellent performance in the first two games, faltered in the third T20 at Rajkot, losing by 26 runs. Despite their solid start to the series, they were unable to maintain their form, and the opposition capitalized on the opportunity to claim the victory.

England, after going two-down in the series, fought back well to keep the series alive and will aim to level it on Friday. With a strong response in their previous game, they are determined to equalize the series and continue their push for a series win.

IND vs ENG Team Preview & Squads

India

India boasts great depth in their batting lineup, allowing top-order batsmen to play a fearless brand of cricket. Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Suryakumar Yadav are all renowned for their aggressive and attacking approach to batting. However, Samson’s lack of runs is a concern, while Abhishek Sharma needs to convert starts into longer innings. If he stays at the crease for the first 4-5 overs, he can make a significant impact.

Suryakumar Yadav, while possessing a wide range of shots, has struggled against England’s pacers, and a change in his batting position could help. Tilak Verma, in contrast, is better suited for number 3, as he can pace his innings according to the match situation.

Hardik Pandya, India’s middle-order anchor and finisher, will be crucial in chipping in with quick runs or rebuilding partnerships after a collapse. With his all-round ability, he remains a key figure in India’s batting strategy.

IND also has plenty of spin-bowling options, with Varun Chakravarthy leading the charge. Mohammad Shami’s return adds pace to the attack, and along with Pandya, he will be vital in taking wickets during the middle and death overs.

India Squads

India Squads

Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, Tilak Varma, Mohammed Shami, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Hardik Pandya, Yadav, Dhruv Jurel, Ravi Bishnoi, Abhishek Sharma, Axar Patel, Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar.

England 

Jos Buttler will be pleased with England’s strong performance in the 3rd T20I and will be backing his players to maintain that momentum and level the series. Mark Wood, Brydon Carse, and Jofra Archer showed promise with the ball, delivering key breakthroughs that changed the game, despite their economy rates suggesting otherwise.

Adil Rashid was the standout performer, with impressive figures of 1 for 15 from his 4 overs, effectively restricting India during their run-chase. Rashid had also impressed in the previous match, taking 1 for 14. ENG’s best approach will be to rely on their strong pace attack while Rashid controls the middle overs.

In the batting lineup, Ben Duckett has regained his form at the top, and Jos Buttler remains crucial at number 3. However, Philip Salt and Harry Brook have struggled to find their rhythm. Despite the presence of big names in the lineup, England has yet to deliver with the bat. They do have depth, with Liam Livingstone and Jamie Smith capable of stepping up, followed by the likes of Overton and Carse, who can provide quick runs with their power-hitting abilities.

England Squads

England Squads

Ben Duckett, Gus Atkinson, Harry Brook, Rehan Ahmed, Jamie Overton, Jos Buttler, Mark Wood, Jamie Smith, Saqib Mahmood, Jofra Archer, Jacob Bethell, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Brydon Carse.

India vs England outfield report

Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune

Six of the previous ten Twenty20 matches played at this Pune location have been won by teams that bowl first.

Even if there are a few gloomy days predicted for the city this week, there are no indications of rain, so we may anticipate an unbroken cricket match between these two teams.

Both bowlers and hitters can get some assistance on this well-balanced surface. In 2012, India’s victory against England by 158 runs was the biggest score ever successfully chased at this location.

India vs England Head-to-Head Stats of Last 5 Matches

In their last five encounters, England has won two and India has won three.

India vs England Prediction

Cricket analysts predict India has a 53% chance of winning.

Disclaimer: This cricket prediction is based on the author’s insights and analysis. Readers should consider the points discussed and draw their own conclusions.