England will be eyeing another win when they lock horns against India in the fourth T20I of the ongoing five-match series. The crucial game will be taking place on Friday (January 31) at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune.
England had their task cut in the third T20I after suffering losses in the first two games. The visitors needed to win the game at any cost to keep the series alive and they came up with a fine all-round performance to stun the reigning T20I world champions by 26 runs.
Asked to bat first, England scored 171/9 in 20 overs. At one stage, they were on 83/1 before a 5-wicket haul from Varun Chakravarthy reduced them to 127/8. However, the tourists still managed to post a 170-plus total. Ben Duckett top-scored for England, scoring 51 while Liam Livingstone also played an important knock of 43 runs.
In reply, India were off to a poor start and were reeling at 85/5. They eventually finished their innings on 145/9. Ahead of the 4th T20I, we are taking a look at the IND vs ENG match prediction, key players, pitch report, and other crucial aspects to determine who will emerge victorious.
IND vs ENG Match Prediction: Who will win the 4th T20I? England Tour of India 2025
Match Details
Match: India vs England, 4th T20I
Date: January 31, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM IST
Venue: Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium, Pune
Live streaming: Disney+ Hotstar
Live broadcast: Star Sports
IND vs ENG Match Prediction – Head-to-Head Record
In the overall head-to-head record, India have the upper hand over England. Even in recent games, the Men in Blue have won more games than losing against England in the shortest format of the game. So, it makes India the favourites to win the upcoming game as well.
Total T20I Matches Played: 27
India Won: 16
England Won: 11
Last 5 Matches: India – 3 wins | England – 2 wins
Pitch Report & Conditions
The surface at the MCA Stadium in Pune is made of black soil and so spinners will get more assistance than pacers on the pitch. When India and New Zealand played the Test in Pune last October, Mitchell Santner had picked up 13 wickets. Even in the only Ranji Trophy game this season played in Pune, the spinners picked up 34 wickets.
So spinners are expected to dominate the proceedings in Pune although batsmen will initially have better conditions to make an impact. With the passage of time, the spinners would be able to make a bigger impact in the game. Both the teams will be looking to bat first and post a challenging total before the pitch slows down.
Pitch Characteristics:
Batting-Friendly: The average first innings total in T20Is at the venue is 166 runs. While the pitch definitely supports stroke play, it will favour the spinners as the game wears on.
Dew Factor: Dew could be a big factor that could minimise the impact of the spinners.
Spin-friendly surface: With the surface in MCA Stadium made of black soil, spinners have a good chance of making a big impact in the fourth IND vs ENG T20I.
Average 1st Innings Score: 166
Chasing Record:
Of the 4 T20Is in Pune so far, teams batting first and second have won two games each. However, the venue has usually favoured the teams batting first. Of the 64 men’s T20 played at the MCA Stadium, teams batting first have won 35 times.
Weather Report
The weather in Pune is expected to be pleasant when the game takes place. With no prediction for rain, the game is unlikely to have any interruption. The temperature will be hovering between 20-25°C during the game.
IND vs ENG Match prediction – India and England Probable XIs
India Playing 11:
Sanju Samson(wk), Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy
England Playing 11:
Phil Salt(wk), Ben Duckett, Jos Buttler (C), Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, and Mark Wood
Weather Report
The weather report is very promising for the fourth IND vs ENG T20I. There is no forecast for rain in Pune on the match day. The temperature will also be pleasant when the game takes place at the MCA Stadium. During the game, the temperature will be hovering between 20-25 degrees Celsius.
Form and Fitness
There is no injury concern for any of the two teams as of now.
Score Prediction
| Team | 1st Innings | 2nd Innings |
| IND | 190-200 | 160-170 |
| ENG | 180-190 | 150-160 |
IND vs ENG Players to perform prediction
Abhishek Sharma: The left-handed batsman has the ability to blow away any team and the onus will be on him to give India a fast start.
Tilak Varma: The young batsman has been in stunning form with the bat in recent times. With the likes of Suryakumar Yadav and other middle-order batters struggling in the series, India will be relying on Tilak.
Varun Chakravarthy: The right-arm spinner has been the standout bowler in the series so far. In 3 games, he has taken 10 wickets and will be eyeing more success.
ENG:
Ben Duckett: The left-handed opener scored a fine fifty in the third T20I and will be looking to play another impactful knock in the upcoming game.
Jos Buttler: Captain Buttler has led his team from the front so far, scoring crucial runs in all the three games. He will be looking to score big in the upcoming game as well.
Adil Rashid: With the surface in Pune likely to assist the spinners, the onus will be on Adil Rashid to deliver for his team.
IND vs ENG Best Batsman Prediction
Who will score the most runs for IND in the match: Abhishek Sharma or Tilak Varma
Who will score the most runs for ENG in the match: Ben Duckett or Jos Buttler
IND vs ENG Best Bowler Prediction
Who will pick the most wickets for IND in the match: Arshdeep Singh or Varun Chakravarthy
Who will pick the most wickets for ENG in the match? Adil Rashid or Brydon Carse
Conclusion: Who will win the match?
While England won the third T20I in Rajkot, India will start the fourth game in Pune as favorites and are expected to win the contest.
India, however, needs to be at their best to beat the two-time T20 world champions and should guard against complacency, especially after the way their batsmen have struggled in the last two games.