ENG vs IND: Predicting Team India’s Best Possible XI for the 4th T20I against England

It took just 11.4 overs for the English bowlers to ruffle the feathers of Indian batters in the 3rd ENG vs IND T20I of the 5-match series played last evening in Nottinghamshire. Earning their biggest victory (by 125 runs) in the format against the reigning World T20 champions, the hosts must be brimming with confidence and will enter the fourth game of the series in Bristol as the outright favorites.

ENG vs IND: Team India got humiliated in Nottinghamshire

In one of the most humiliating batting performances in the format’s history, Team India were bundled out for a mere 76, their second-ever lowest score in T20Is, in pursuit of 201. The English opening bowling duo of Josh Tongue and Jofra Archer didn’t give a breather to the Indian batters as they shared 7 wickets between them, giving away 57 runs. The spin duo of Will Jacks and Adil Rashid shared the remaining 3 wickets between them to help their side go 2-0 up in the series.

The scale of India’s defeat was staggering, but from here on, they need to turn their focus to the next game, i.e., the 4th T20I, all set to take place on Thursday, July 9, at the County Ground in Bristol. At this stage, the best Team India could do is end the series 2-2, which means they will have to win the remaining two games.

After putting up two horrendous performances in the last two games, the team management should take some bold calls for the playing XI. What could be the best possible XI for Team India for the 4th T20I against England? Let’s discuss the same ahead in this post.

ENG vs IND: India’s Best Possible XI for the 4th T20I

Let’s take a look at what could be the best possible eleven for Team India for the Bristol T20I.

Predicted India XI: Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (WK), Shreyas Iyer (C), Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav

• With a plethora of left-handers in the batting order, it is essential to have a right-hander in the top three.
• Enough of making Sanju Samson the scapegoat. Every time a new batter has to be tested, it’s Sanju who has to make the way.
• With players like Tilak Varma struggling with form and playing with zero intent in T20Is, it’s high time management takes a call on him.
• Sanju can be brought in for Tilak. The wicket-keeper batter is flexible with his batting position and can bat at no 3 or 4. With Vaibhav and Abhishek opening the innings, Sanju can easily come to bat after the openers.
• Varun Chakravarthy has struggled with form in recent times. He had an ordinary IPL for the 3-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders as he was struggling with injury, and even after his return from injury, Varun hasn’t looked like an effective weapon.
• In the two games he has played so far, he has given 72 runs in 7 overs and picked up a solitary wicket.
• In English conditions, spinners aren’t that effective, especially if they are struggling with form. This is something Gautam Gambhir should take into consideration and revert from his adamant nature.
• Bringing an extra seam bowling option who can bat as well would be a better idea. Mumbai’s Suryansh Shedge fits the role and should be backed over the struggling Chakravarthy in the 4th T20I in Bristol.