In the fourth T20I against England at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, India’s strategy of having several all-rounders in their playing XI paid off as they overcame a lackluster start to produce a commanding total of 181/9 on Friday, January 31.
For the first time in the series, Jos Buttler chose to field first after winning the toss. Before Saqib Mahmood, in his first game of the series, removed Sanju Smason and Tilak Varma off his first two deliveries, Abhishek Sharma finished the first over with a four and a six. To finish the over without giving up a run, the right-arm speedster removed Suryakumar Yadav.
India needed to solidify at 12/3, and Rinku Singh and Abhishek Sharma’s pairing accomplished that.
The two left-handed batsmen contributed 45 runs for the fourth wicket while playing counterattacking cricket. But they were fired one after the other. All-rounders Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya were required to salvage the innings after India fell to 79/5 in the eleventh over.
In the early stages of the partnership, Dube was the more aggressive hitter and was dropped by Buttler on 0 runs. Hardik only managed 14 runs off his first 17 balls, playing the waiting game. But the Baroda cricketer made a brilliant change of pace and reached his half-century with just 27 balls. After stitching a vital 87-run partnership off 45 deliveries with Dube, he played a spectacular 53-run knock (30 balls) before leaving in the 18th over.
The Mumbai all-rounder scored a fifty off 31 balls in his comeback outing after hitting consecutive boundaries in the next over. This was prior to Jamie Overton bowling a brilliant final over with only three runs given up. Dube scored a solid 53 off 34 balls before being run out off the last delivery. Overton claimed a few wickets, and Mahmood finished with a three-for. Meanwhile, Adil Rashid and Brydon Carse each contributed a wicket.
Here’s how ‘X’ users reacted to all the action from the first innings:
Greatest finisher to play for India #HardikPandya #INDvsENG pic.twitter.com/wWfxukHMfY
— Prajwal Shetty (@shettyytweets) January 31, 2025
Dono bhai dono thabahi
#INDvsENG #HardikPandya pic.twitter.com/YLQrHqsZvC
— 𝐀𝐦𝐨𝐥
(@ITzAmol07) January 31, 2025
Hardik himanshu pandya the Clutch God
Aura#hardikpandya #INDvsENG pic.twitter.com/517hqqpvYc
— 𝙅𝙄𝙏𝙀𝙉𝘿𝘼𝙍 𝙋𝘼𝙑𝙄𝙔𝘼 (@Jitendar_Paviya) January 31, 2025
Congratulations Shivam Dubey ji and Hardik Pandya ji, we have expectations from you only, keep it up.#INDvsENG#hardikpandya #ShivamDube pic.twitter.com/Nbf4ao1sYA
— Adesh Tiwari (@AdeshSanatani) January 31, 2025
After Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya is the player who always perform in pressure situation.
Hardik Pandya- The Clutch Player
#HardikPandya #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/qoAqhBsHQs
— Sachin Shukla (@imsachin_20) January 31, 2025
#HardikPandya
— Always Ravi (@alwaysRaviDhfrc) January 31, 2025
Hardik Pandya Is The Real Father Of Rohit Sharma & Mumbai Indians Accept The Truth Guys…#HardikPandya #INDvsENG #INDvENG #INDvENGonJioStar #Cricket pic.twitter.com/tKdPKNMsfs
—
𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗢𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘂𝘀 (@Stroke0Genius41) January 31, 2025
Arshdeep kaake guard kyu leta hai tu
#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/EEo7nIV3AN
— chill dude (@rohancric947) January 31, 2025
50 up & going strong!
Shivam Dube sails past his 4th T20I half-century
#ShivamDube
— Sonu Agarwall™ (@SonuKum00171039) January 31, 2025
Hardik Pandya – 53(30)
Shivam Dube – 53(34)INDIA POSTED 181/9 FROM 20 OVERS…!!!!
— Satyendra prajapati (@SatyendraRP) January 31, 2025
England need 182 runs to win the 4th T20I against India.#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/wpsoqBW4hM
— CRIC INSIGHTS (@Insights4Cric) January 31, 2025
th T20I FIFTY for Hardik Pandya
This has been a cracker of a knock
Follow The Match
https://t.co/tPmtCJAer0…#TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/aFVwVrcPeV
— Pawan Samrau (@Pawan_Samrau) January 31, 2025
up & going strong!
Shivam Dube sails past his
th T20I half-century
Follow The Match
— officialKL_Rahul_ (@KumarRahul58896) January 31, 2025
India
