India vs England 2021: 3 Key Decisions From Virat Kohli That Helped India To Victory Over England In The Fourth T20I

Virat Kohli’s men produced a fine performance in the fourth T20I to level the series 2-2 and India will be happy to secure a win despite losing the toss. So far in the series, the first three games had been won by the team batting second and it was clearly visible that the Ahmedabad pitch has become better to bat on from the second innings more than the first.

With the due factor also coming into play, all odds were against an Indian win but India bowled brilliantly and held on to crucial catches which brought the game in India’s favour. This has been the only game that went on to the wire till the last over and Virat Kohli would be happy that India came out on the winner’s side. Here are three key decisions from Virat Kohli that helped India cruise to victory in the fourth T20I.

3 Key Decision From Virat Kohli That Helped India Cruise To Victory In The Fourth T20I:

Promoting Suryakumar Yadav:

Suryakumar Yadav was the star of the show yesterday and showed his batting prowess in his first opportunity. He was made for the big stages and it was evident with the way he played. His knock of 57 off 31 deliveries changed the course of the game and was very crucial in defining the change in momentum towards India. He hit three sixes and six fours in his innings at a strike rate of 183.

He came into the crease at the downfall of Rohit Sharma early and started with his first ball in his international career with a blistering six of Jofra Archer. He wasn’t afraid to take on the bowlers and played shots of the highest order during his innings. Promoting him up the order certainly helped Virat Kohli to stabilize things and keep the scoreboard ticking as well.

Using Hardik Pandya As The Fifth Bowler:

Hardik Pandya was the biggest positive for India in the T20 series so far as he has been used as the fifth bowler by Virat Kohli after a long injury gap. If Pandya can bowl four overs in T20 internationals, then the balance of the team changes totally and an extra batsman or a bowler can be picked according to the wicket. He changed the game totally around in the fourth T20 and was the pick of the bowlers.

He gave away just 16 runs in his four-over spell and picked up two crucial wickets too in his spell. He bowled an excellent over in the death which increased the pressure on the England batsman too who found it hard to hit Hardik Pandya. Hardik can hit the 140 kmph mark at times and he is lethal with the new ball as well. Virat Kohli backed Hardik as the fifth bowler and it indeed paid dividends.

Replacing Yuzvendra Chahal With Rahul Chahar:

Yuzvendra Chahal has been on the expensive side in his last few games and was taken to the cleaners in the third T20 again which affected the Indian bowling massively. Chahal was dropped for the fourth T20 and was replaced with Mumbai Indians leg spinner Rahul Chahar who has been on the sidelines for the England test series too.

The replacement worked pretty well as Rahul Chahar picked up two crucial wickets in his 4 overs spell and gave away just 35 runs which benefited the team on a large note. Rahul Chahar brought a different variety into the bowling attack as he bowls from coming diagonal to the wicket and has been always economical. This could be the start of a new era from Chahar and if he does well continuously, he might well be in contention for the T20 World Cup.