Published By: Sayan Guha

IND vs. ENG T20I: What Happened When India Last Time Faced England in Pune?

As India and England gear up for the crucial 4th T20I in Pune, we take a trip down memory lane to revisit the last time these two sides clashed at this venue

The five-match T20I series between India and England has taken an unexpected turn. India, who had previously had a commanding 2-0 lead, were smothered in the third T20I as England’s bowlers showed discipline. Chasing a modest 172, India never got going and finished 26 runs short. Varun Chakravarthy’s five-wicket haul was a bright spot in the defeat, but England’s first win in the series has undoubtedly changed the momentum.

With the result now 2-1, the fourth T20I at Pune’s Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium promises to be a critical struggle. But, as India attempts to rebound, it’s worth recalling what happened the last time these two teams met in Pune.

Pune 2012: Yuvraj’s night to remember

A lot has changed since December 2012, but memories of India’s final T20I against England in Pune remain vivid. Yuvraj Singh delivered an all-round masterpiece in the freshly constructed Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium (now MCA Stadium). The left-hander was not just looking to amuse but also to set terms.

Batting first, England got off to a solid start due to Alex Hales and Luke Wright (34), who took the attack to the Indian spinners. Hales, in particular, was in superb form, hammering his way to a quick half-century (56). England scored more than ten runs per over for the first seven overs, putting India on the back foot. Yuvraj Singh arrived just as things were looking bleak.

The game-changer

MS Dhoni had already gone through six bowlers before handing the ball to Yuvraj in the ninth over. The move flipped the match on its head. His first over? Only five singles. In his second? Luke Wright holed out to long-off. Then came the third over that broke England’s back—Hales was dropped, then bowled, and seconds later, Eoin Morgan fell while attempting to clear long on. Three wickets in quick succession sent the visitors from cruising to wobbling.

Ashok Dinda’s accurate death bowling prevented England from entirely recovering, and despite Jos Buttler’s late surge, they finished at 157/6, a score that appeared modest on Pune’s batting-friendly ground.

Yuvraj’s encore with the bat

India’s response began on a positive note, with Ajinkya Rahane and Gautam Gambhir capitalising on England’s erratic bowling. Even though both openers left early, Yuvraj once again took the limelight. He tore into left-arm spinner Danny Briggs, scoring 18 runs in a single over. His 21-ball 38 ensured India remained ahead of the asking rate. A top-edged six off Luke Wright got fans on their feet, but his exit did not slow India down. With MS Dhoni (24*) and Suresh Raina (26) at the crease, the task was done with 13 balls remaining. A five-wicket triumph and a performance to remember.

Pune awaits another thriller

Fast forward to 2024, and Pune will host a vital India-England T20I again. The stakes are high: India can win the series, while England will be anxious to force a final. The circumstances may have altered, and the teams may have shifted, but history has a strange habit of repeating itself. Can India deliver another dominant performance in Pune, or can England mount a comeback? The answer is beneath the lights of the MCA Stadium.