India lost the third T20I against England by 26 runs in Rajkot on January 28, 2025, with the series now standing at 2-1 in favor of India. England, batting first, posted a total of 171/9, with Ben Duckett scoring a fiery 51 off 28 balls and Liam Livingstone contributing 43 off 24 balls. India’s Varun Chakravarthy was the standout performer with the ball, taking 5 wickets for 24 runs, and his effort restricted England’s progress.
In response, India struggled in their chase, despite a resilient 40-run knock from Hardik Pandya. England’s bowlers, including Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, and Adil Rashid, applied pressure throughout, with Rashid’s economical spell of 15 runs and key wickets, including that of Tilak Varma, proving crucial. India could only manage 145/9, falling short by 26 runs.
The victory of England makes the T20I series more interesting, with 2 matches to go. The win has kept them alive in the contest, reducing India’s lead to 2-1. With the fourth T20I scheduled to take place in Pune, both teams will be eager to capitalize on the momentum from this match. England will look to build on their strong bowling performance, while India will aim to bounce back and regain control of the series.
Here are the three changes India should consider for the 4th T20I against England:
1: Rinku Singh for Dhruv Jurel
Left-handed batter Rinku Singh, who was ruled out of the 2nd and 3rd T20I due to a niggle, has been back in the squad. The finisher has been in an excellent form in recent times and will be started ahead of Dhruv Jurel, who has failed to impress. Adding Rinku Singh into the playing XI could provide a more explosive option in the middle-order, which could be critical against a strong English bowling attack.
From 31 T20I matches, Rinku Singh has managed to score 507 runs with an average and strike rate of 46.09 and 165.14, respectively.
2: Shivam Dube for Washington Sundar
All-rounder Shivam Dube’s addition over Washington Sundar would be a tactical move aimed at boosting India’s batting strength. Dube has been in good form, providing power-hitting and stability in the lower order. His ability to clear the boundaries consistently makes him a valuable asset in T20 cricket, especially in situations where quick runs are needed. India already has a lot of spinners in the playing XI, making Washington Sundar an unnecessary pick at Pune.
From 33 T20I matches, Shivam Dube has managed to score 448 runs with an average of 29.86 and has taken 11 wickets.
3: Arshdeep Singh for Ravi Bishnoi
India’s top wicket-taker in T20I, Arshdeep Singh has proven to be a reliable bowler in the powerplay and death overs, especially with his ability to bowl yorkers and maintain tight lines under pressure. His experience in handling crunch situations and his ability to pick up wickets at crucial times makes him a strong option, particularly when defending or chasing low totals. inclusion over Ravi Bishnoi is a decision focused on strengthening India’s death bowling.
From 62 T20I matches, Arshdeep Singh has taken a total of 98 wickets with an economy of 8.27.
