India levelled the on-going five-match T20I series 2-2 last night after after a set of some brilliant individual performances. Suryakumar Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Hardik Pandya and Shreyas Iyer shined against the visitors as they handed India a chance to be alive in the series.
Suryakumar Yadav and Mumbai Indians co. Shines as India Wins the 4th T20I vs England
Suryakumar Yadav, who debuted on the 2nd T20 of the series, was unlucky to miss the third. On Thursday, Suryakumar returned but had no such jitters. He dispatched the very first ball he faced from Archer for an agenda-setting six. With Suryakumar taking England’s fast men for runs, Eoin Morgan turned to Adil Rashid to burgle a few quiet overs, but Suryakumar picked him apart, too, in clinical fashion. Suryakumar has made a compelling case for himself with his dynamic T20 approach and he should definitely start in the upcoming world cup starting XI.
Rohit Sharma on the other hand opened the match with the six and became the first Indian to do so in T20Is. Virat Kohli left the field on 16th over when England needed 46 for 24 balls with Ben Stokes and Eoin Morgan on the crease. Rohit brought back Shardul Thakur into the attack in the 17th over as the medium-pacer claimed back-to-back wickets on the first two balls to pull India back into the game.
With India playing just five bowlers, Hardik Pandya has been absolutely brilliant, ensuring that the dangerous strategy of going with just five bowling options does not backfire. Hardik Pandya made it uncomfortable for the batters with his fine mix of slower balls as he gave away just 16 runs in his four overs besides claiming two wickets. India chipped in with the wickets at the right moments.
Shardul Thakur Pulled The Game For Home Side After Back to Back Huge Wickets
Shardul Thakur bowled the 17th over of the innings. At that stage, England were 140-4 and Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow were smashing the dew-swamped ball all around the park.
The 29-year-old Mumbaikar delivered and brought his team back with 2 consecutive wickets of Stokes and skipper Eoin Morgan. Shardul Thakur then bowled the most difficult over of the day – the 20th – and defended 23 runs against a rampant Jofra Archer to seal a memorable win for his team.
Shardul Thakur also played an all-important cameo of 10 runs off 4 balls in the first innings, which ultimately proved to be the difference between the sides.
