India Clinches T20I Series with Thrilling 15-Run Victory Over England in Pune

Harshit Rana and Ravi Bishnoi shine with three-wicket hauls as India secures an unassailable lead in the five-match series.

Pune, February 1 – India secured a 15-run victory over England in the fourth T20I at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, taking an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series. The match saw Harshit Rana and Ravi Bishnoi spearhead India’s bowling attack, each grabbing three crucial wickets, while Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube’s half-centuries powered India to a defendable total.

Bowling Brilliance: Rana & Bishnoi Seal the Win

The second innings saw a dominant performance from India’s bowling attack, with Harshit Rana replacing concussed Shivam Dube and proving to be a game-changer. His ability to strike at crucial moments ensured England fell short in their chase of 182 runs.

England’s innings started on a strong note, with Philip Salt (23 off 21) and Ben Duckett (39 off 19) building a 62-run partnership. However, Ravi Bishnoi provided India the breakthrough in the sixth over, dismissing Duckett and shifting the momentum.

From there, India tightened its grip:
✅ Jos Buttler (2 off 3) was removed by Bishnoi in the 8th over.
✅ Harry Brook (51 off 26) played a valiant knock, but Varun Chakravarthy sent him packing in the 15th over.
✅ Late cameos from Jamie Overton (19 off 15) and Adil Rashid (10 off 6)* weren’t enough to take England over the line.

India’s Bowling Figures:

• Harshit Rana – 3/31 (4 overs)
• Ravi Bishnoi – 3/28 (4 overs)
• Varun Chakravarthy – 2/28 (4 overs)
• Axar Patel & Arshdeep Singh – 1 wicket each

Hardik & Shivam’s Heroics Rescue India’s Innings

Earlier in the match, England put India under immense pressure after opting to bowl first. Saqib Mahmood’s fiery spell (3/35) stunned the hosts, as he produced a triple-wicket maiden, dismissing Sanju Samson (1), Tilak Varma (0), and Suryakumar Yadav (0) in the second over.

Despite the early collapse at 12/3, Abhishek Sharma (29 off 19) and Rinku Singh (30 off 26) steadied the innings with a 45-run stand before both fell in the middle overs.

The real turnaround came with an explosive partnership between Hardik Pandya (53 off 30) and Shivam Dube (53 off 34). Their aggressive stroke play helped India reach 181/9 in 20 overs.

Key Performances in India’s Batting:

• Hardik Pandya – 53 off 30 (4 fours, 4 sixes)
• Shivam Dube – 53 off 34 (7 fours, 2 sixes)
• Rinku Singh – 30 off 26 (4 fours, 1 six)
• Abhishek Sharma – 29 off 19 (4 fours, 1 six)

Series Finale Awaits in Mumbai

With the series already in the bag, India and England will now face off in the fifth and final T20I at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 2. While India will look to seal the series with a dominant 4-1 win, England will aim to end on a high note.

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