Skipper Suryakumar Yadav on Friday lauded his team’s performance against England in the fourth T20I match of the series, describing it as a “top effort” from everyone in the Men in Blue squad. India clinched a thrilling 15-run win over England at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, handing the Men in Blue an unassailable lead in the five-match series.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Suryakumar praised Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube for their “positivity” with the bat in the middle order, adding that the team is heading in the right direction.
“Top effort from everyone, and the great crowd from start till the end. [12 for 3] We didn’t want to go back, boys know what brand of cricket we want to play. Three wickets in one over was too much. But the positivity, and the way Dube and Pandya showed their experience in the middle was great. This is what we have been talking about – expressing yourself and batting the same way as in the nets. The way they practice is incredible and they do it in the game. I’m happy, I think we’re moving in the right direction. I always knew post-powerplay, [overs] 7-10 there was a time we could control the game. We picked up a few wickets, and then Harshit Rana came in as a third seamer and delivered for us, that was incredible,” Suryakumar was quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
Recapping the match, England won the toss and opted to bowl, but the Men in Blue had a rocky start, losing three quick wickets for just 12 runs. However, the Indian middle order fought back in style. Abhishek Sharma and Rinku Singh stitched a 45-run partnership, providing India with much-needed momentum.
Hardik Pandya played a brilliant knock, smashing a half-century in the 18th over, and was ably supported by Shivam Dube, who also reached his fifty in the 19th over. The duo took India to 181/9 in the first innings.
During the run chase, India gained an upper hand after Harshit Rana replaced the concussed Shivam Dube in the second innings. Rana’s presence as a third seamer provided a massive boost to the Indian bowling attack, with the bowler turning out to be the hero in a crunch situation.
Harry Brook was the only England batter who looked dangerous, playing a fiery knock that gave the visitors hope of chasing down the target. However, Brook was dismissed in the 15th over by Varun Chakravarthy.
In the final stages of the game, Jamie Overton and Adil Rashid added some crucial runs, but they fell short against India’s clinical bowling attack. Harshit Rana and Ravi Bishnoi led the charge, helping India bundle England out for 166, securing a thrilling victory.