India vs England 2020-21, 4th T20I preview: India faces tricky task to avoid series defeat

India and England are involved in an exciting five-game Twenty20 International series. The series is currently led by England 2-1, as the visitor would be eying to seal the series, while the host would be looking to stay in the contention, with Ahmedabad being the destination.

<p>Team India will take on England in the fourth Twenty20 International at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday. The match would be highly crucial for India, as a loss would hand it a series defeat, thus bringing its seven-series unbeaten streak to an end.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>As for England, it would look to seal the series and extended its series-winning streak to nine. However, it won't come easy against the host, as we present the match preview of the same.</p>

Team India will take on England in the fourth Twenty20 International at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday. The match would be highly crucial for India, as a loss would hand it a series defeat, thus bringing its seven-series unbeaten streak to an end.

As for England, it would look to seal the series and extended its series-winning streak to nine. However, it won't come easy against the host, as we present the match preview of the same.

<p><strong>Current form</strong><br />As for the current form, India is having mixed luck in the series so far. Nonetheless, having got the home advantage is still a plus. As for England, it is too riding on a similar fate like India. Nevertheless, the toss factor seems to be playing the game with either.</p>

Current form
As for the current form, India is having mixed luck in the series so far. Nonetheless, having got the home advantage is still a plus. As for England, it is too riding on a similar fate like India. Nevertheless, the toss factor seems to be playing the game with either.

<p><strong>Team composition and combination</strong><br />For Team India, batting continues to be wobbly, with opener KL Rahul failing to fire on three occasions. If he faces an axe in the next game, India has options aplenty to replace him. As for its bowling, everything seems fine for now.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Meanwhile, England's batting seems to be improving with each passing game, while its bowling is already praiseworthy. A little more effort from the top-order would make the side even dangerous.</p>

Team composition and combination
For Team India, batting continues to be wobbly, with opener KL Rahul failing to fire on three occasions. If he faces an axe in the next game, India has options aplenty to replace him. As for its bowling, everything seems fine for now.

Meanwhile, England's batting seems to be improving with each passing game, while its bowling is already praiseworthy. A little more effort from the top-order would make the side even dangerous.

<p><strong>Injury concerns</strong><br />For Team India, uncapped spinner Varun Chakravarthy and pacer T Natarajan continue to be on the list of concerns. As for England, pacer Jofra Archer's brilliant outing despite some fitness concerns is fantastic. However, let's hope it does not affect him in the longer run.</p>

Injury concerns
For Team India, uncapped spinner Varun Chakravarthy and pacer T Natarajan continue to be on the list of concerns. As for England, pacer Jofra Archer's brilliant outing despite some fitness concerns is fantastic. However, let's hope it does not affect him in the longer run.

<p><strong>Head-to-head</strong><br />Head on, both sides have clashed on 17 occasions, with England winning nine and India winning eight. There have been nine instances in India, with England having the upper hand by a game, while India has won four. As for Ahmedabad, it would be the third game involving the sides, with England leading 2-1.</p>

Head-to-head
Head on, both sides have clashed on 17 occasions, with England winning nine and India winning eight. There have been nine instances in India, with England having the upper hand by a game, while India has won four. As for Ahmedabad, it would be the third game involving the sides, with England leading 2-1.

<p><strong>Weather and pitch report</strong><br />The weather in Ahmedabad would once again be hot, with the temperature likely to be around 39 degrees. The track would be sporty, a target above 170-180 likely to be competitive. Nonetheless, the toss would still play a crucial factor, electing to bowl with the one winning it.</p>

Weather and pitch report
The weather in Ahmedabad would once again be hot, with the temperature likely to be around 39 degrees. The track would be sporty, a target above 170-180 likely to be competitive. Nonetheless, the toss would still play a crucial factor, electing to bowl with the one winning it.

<p><strong>Probable XI<br />India:</strong> KL Rahul/Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli (c), Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur/ Navdeep Saini/T Natarajan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yuzvendra Chahal.<br /><strong>England: </strong>Jos Buttler (wk), Jason Roy, Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Eoin Morgan (c), Sam Curran, Mark Wood, Chris Jordan, Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid.</p>

Probable XI
India: KL Rahul/Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli (c), Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur/ Navdeep Saini/T Natarajan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yuzvendra Chahal.
England: Jos Buttler (wk), Jason Roy, Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Eoin Morgan (c), Sam Curran, Mark Wood, Chris Jordan, Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid.

<p><strong>Fantasy XI<br />Batsmen:</strong> Kishan, Kohli, Malan, Roy- Kishan and Roy can give the perfect start, as has been the case in the past few games, while Kohli can consolidate at number three, followed by Malan in the middle.<br /><strong>Wicketkeepers:</strong> Bairstow, Buttler- Although Buttler has been prolific as an opener, Bairstow, too, can bat at the top or in the middle and has been in a decent T20 form of late.<br /><strong>All-rounders:</strong> Sundar, Pandya- Pandya is a no-brainer here, mainly for his atomic batting, while Sundar will come in handy with his spin and bat as and when the situation demands.<br /><strong>Bowlers:</strong> Chahal, Archer, Wood- Chahal is a must-have since he is a T20 specialist spinner, while Archer and Wodd's prolificness with their pace in the format of late is highly commendable, making them worthy additions in the XI.</p>

Fantasy XI
Batsmen: Kishan, Kohli, Malan, Roy- Kishan and Roy can give the perfect start, as has been the case in the past few games, while Kohli can consolidate at number three, followed by Malan in the middle.
Wicketkeepers: Bairstow, Buttler- Although Buttler has been prolific as an opener, Bairstow, too, can bat at the top or in the middle and has been in a decent T20 form of late.
All-rounders: Sundar, Pandya- Pandya is a no-brainer here, mainly for his atomic batting, while Sundar will come in handy with his spin and bat as and when the situation demands.
Bowlers: Chahal, Archer, Wood- Chahal is a must-have since he is a T20 specialist spinner, while Archer and Wodd's prolificness with their pace in the format of late is highly commendable, making them worthy additions in the XI.

<p><strong>Match details<br />Date and day:</strong> March 18, 2021 (Thursday)<br /><strong>Venue: </strong>Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad<br /><strong>Time:</strong> 7 PM (IST)<br /><strong>Where to watch (TV): </strong>Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 1 Hindi (Also available in HD, along with regional languages)<br /><strong>Where to watch (Online):</strong> Hotstar</p>

Match details
Date and day: March 18, 2021 (Thursday)
Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Time: 7 PM (IST)
Where to watch (TV): Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 1 Hindi (Also available in HD, along with regional languages)
Where to watch (Online): Hotstar