The ongoing five-match T20I series between India and England has reached an interesting point where England leads the series 2-1, with the home side needing to win the upcoming fourth T20I to stay alive in the series.
India has had trouble with batting first and posting a defendable total, and their bowlers have found it difficult to contain the ultra-aggressive England batsmen, who bat in one gear only and constantly attacking the opposition bowlers.
Indian batsmen have found it difficult to counter the England pacers especially Jofra Archer and Mark Wood who have used speed and bounce to trouble the Indian batting lineup.
IND v ENG 2021: Gautam Gambhir amazed at Suryakumar Yadav's exclusion from 3rd T20I
Here is the COC Predicted Playing XI for the fourth T20I
KL Rahul has been in the doldrums in all the three T20Is scoring just 1,0 and 0, getting out bowled two times out of three. His partners have also found it difficult with Shikhar Dhawan getting to play only one match and Ishan Kishan also being demoted to on.3, despite hitting a fifty on his T20I debut.
However, with Indian captain Virat Kohli backing KL Rahul to come good, chances are less for him to be dropped despite three continuous failures. Rohit Sharma looked uneasy in his knock of 15 runs but is expected to partner Rahul on the top.
Ishan Kishan may have failed in the 3rd T20I, but he has shown that he is a special talent and is expected to continue in the no.3 position. Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and Hardik Pandya, along with Washington Sundar are more or less likely to be the spine of the Indian middle order.
It has been hearty to see Hardik Pandya getting back to bowling and has shown the ability to send some deliveries with serious pace, surprising the England batsmen.
However, changes are to be expected in the bowling department, as only Washington Sundar has come out unscathed in the two losses suffered by India. Yuzvendra Chahal was taken to cleaners in the third T20I by Jos Buttler, who countered the leggie with reverse sweeps.
Rahul Chahar, who has been with the Indian team since the Test series, may get a look in as Chahal might be rested after being rendered ineffective by England batting.
IND v ENG 2021: WATCH - Virat Kohli gets furious on Shardul Thakur after a wild throw
Also, Shardul Thakur has proved to be toothless thus far, picking only 2 wickets in 3 matches thus far. Therefore expect Navdeep Saini to replace Thakur, given that Saini brings some serious pace and aggression to the table, which the likes of Archer and Wood have shown in the two England victories so far.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is expected to hold onto his place having bowled much better with each passing game. But India and Virat Kohli will expect him to pick a few wickets at the start to put pressure on the opposition.
COC Presents Team India Predicted Playing XI for the fourth T20I:
KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli (C), Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rahul Chahar, Navdeep Saini
