India Clinches Series with Thrilling 15-Run Victory in 4th T20I-Bishnoi and Rana Shine

India sealed the series with a thrilling 15-run win over England in the fourth T20I, taking an unassailable 3-1 lead. The match, played at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Friday, saw remarkable performances from Ravi Bishnoi and debutant Harshit Rana, both of whom took three wickets each. This victory means the series is now out of England's reach, with the final T20I in Mumbai on Sunday no longer affecting the outcome.

India's shining bowling attack

The question mark was on India's bowling, especially on the shoulders of Bishnoi (3-28) and Rana (3-33), who ensured that England's chase was suppressed. Thus, after a competitive total of 181/9, India faced an aggressive start from England, but Bishnoi and Rana turned the game in their favour with those crucial breakthroughs. Right through the match, it ebbed and flowed, where England had threatened to run away with it with openers Phil Salt and Ben Duckett, but the spinners stood firm for India.

Resilient England Start

Salt and Duckett came out with an aggressive mindset, using the Power-play to perfection. Salt was quick off the blocks, scoring boundaries off Arshdeep Singh in the first over. Duckett soon followed, with well-timed flicks and drives that raced to the boundary. India's bowlers struggled initially, with Arshdeep failing to generate swing and giving away boundaries. Varun Chakravarthy, brought in early to introduce spin, had little impact as Duckett launched into him with reverse sweeps and a towering six. At the end of the Power-play, England had surged to 62/0, with both openers finding their rhythm.

Turning Point for India

Just when it seemed that England was on top of things, India struck back. Ravi Bishnoi, who was brought in for the final over of the Power-play, provided the breakthrough by sending Duckett back to the pavilion for 39. Axar Patel then sent Salt back to the pavilion for 23 in the very next over, reducing England to 67/2. The momentum had shifted, and with Jos Buttler walking in, India was eager to capitalize on the sudden opening.

Bishnoi and Rana's Impact.

Bishnoi continued to be at his best. He sent Buttler back for a paltry 2 off 3 balls. England was at 67/3 and had lost key wickets of Duckett and Buttler, who had stalled England's run. With England losing three quick wickets, Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone took the mantle, playing cautiously against India's spinners. The required run rate started creeping in, and at the 10-over mark, England was at 86/3 and needed to speed up.

Meanwhile, on the Indian side, a surprise move by captain Suryakumar Yadav brought debutant Harshit Rana into the attack. Replacing Shivam Dube, who had been concussed, Rana immediately made his presence felt. His fast deliveries, often reaching 150 km/h, shook England's middle order. In his very first over, he dismissed Livingstone for 9, reducing England to 99/4. Despite Brook's best efforts to counter-attack, Rana's pace continued to cause problems, and England's chase started to unravel.

Brook's Fight and Chakravarthy's Breakthroughs

Brook was the standout player for England, reaching his fifty off just 26 balls, but just as he started to settle, disaster struck. Chakravarthy dismissed him for 51, with a cheeky scoop shot resulting in an easy catch for Arshdeep. England was now at 133/5, and in the following over, Brydon Carse joined the collapse with a duck, leaving England at 133/6.

Chakravarthy, who had already taken two crucial wickets, finished his spell with figures of 4-0-28-2, adding pressure on the English lower order. With only a few overs left, England’s chase became steeper, and Rana’s clever use of variation put the final nail in their coffin. He sent Jacob Bethell back for 6, and then Bishnoi cleaned up Jofra Archer with a brilliant delivery, leaving England at 140/7.

India Seals the Victory

With England's hopes fading away, the final few wickets fell quickly. Arshdeep took the last wicket of Saqib Mahmood as India sealed the 15-run victory and series with 3-1. It was a complete turnaround for India, which had lost the third T20I in Rajkot and had confirmed dominance in the series, making the final T20I a formality.

In the end, Hardik Pandya (53) and Shivam Dube (53) had set up India's competitive total with a strong counter-attacking partnership. Saqib Mahmood had tried to keep England in the game with figures of 3/35, but India's bowlers, led by Bishnoi and Rana, proved too much for the visitors. With the series sealed, India will head into the final match in Mumbai with confidence and a 3-1 series lead.