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The Indian cricket team will look to put on a much improved all-round show in a must-win game against a strong England side in the fourth T20I of the five-match series at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday, March 18.

Team India, led by Virat Kohli, will also need to negate the toss factor if they are to level the series as all the three matches so far have been won by the chasing team. 

In the two matches that India have lost after batting first, they have significantly struggled in the batting powerplay, which has impacted their final total. 

India have been heavily dependent on their captain Virat Kohli, who has been the highest run-getter in the ongoing T20 series, amassing 150 runs in three matches and has been dismissed only once (in the first T20I). 

Interestingly, Virat Kohli hasn’t been up to the mark on the field though. He has dropped eight catches in all T20Is since 2019, the most by any fielder from a Test-playing nation.

KL Rahul’s recent T20I form

India will hope that their star openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma can give them a good start, which the team has failed to do in the three T20Is.

KL Rahul, who has been dismissed for consecutive ducks in the last two matches, can heave a sigh of relief after Virat Kohli made it evident that the Karnataka batsman and Rohit Sharma remain their preferred opening combination.

KL Rahul last four T20I matches

0 vs Australia, in Sydney, 8 Dec 2020

1 vs England, in Ahmedabad, 12 Mar 2021

0 vs England, in Ahmedabad, 14 Mar 2021

0 vs England, in Ahmedabad, 16 Mar 2021

Why Suryakumar Yadav is not in the Indian team?

This could prove to be a setback for Suryakumar Yadav, who is looking to cement his place in the side. Apart from domestic cricket, Suryakumar Yadav has been a prolific scorer and a destructive batsman in the Indian T20 League as well.

His case, however, is complicated. With Shreyas Iyer headlining the middle order, it makes fellow Mumbai batsman Suryakumar Yadav’s selection in the playing XI difficult.

The hosts might add a third all-rounder alongside Hardik Pandya and Washington Sundar, with the choice between uncapped Rahul Tewatia and Axar Patel.

On the other hand, the England cricket team will be pleased with the way they have played throughout the ongoing series. 

England will only hope that the world's top-ranked batsman Dawid Malan can fire in the remaining two matches.

With England leading 2-1 in the series, no major changes are expected in the visitors’ playing XI.

Where to watch India vs England 4th T20I live?

The India vs England fourth T20I will be telecast live at 7:00 PM IST on Star Sports 1 HD and Star Sports 3 HD, along with the corresponding SD TV channels on Thursday, March 18. 

Live streaming of the IND vs ENG 4th T20I will be available on Disney+ Hotstar.

For India vs England odds and betting, visit Sportsbet.io and look for ODI Series India vs England.

 

Feature image courtesy: Jewel SAMAD / AFP





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