Sanju Samson’s return, Tilak Verma and Varun Chakraborty’s leave? India’s probable playing XI for the fourth T20

New Delhi. The five-match T20 series being played between India and England has now reached a very exciting and decisive turn. The fourth match of the series will be played on Thursday (July 9) at the County Ground in Bristol. This match is like ‘do or die’ for the Indian team. After suffering two consecutive crushing defeats, the Indian team is trailing 0-2 in the series (the first match was inconclusive or cancelled). If the Indian team also loses this match, then it will have to face defeat in the second consecutive bilateral T20 series. In such a situation, to save its reputation and stay in the series, the team management is in a mood to make some big and drastic changes in the playing eleven.

Tilak Verma’s poor form is frowned upon, Sanju Samson’s return confirmed
The recent form of team vice-captain Tilak Verma has been very worrying. Due to continuous flops, the sword is hanging in his place. There is a lot of discussion in the cricket circles that this left-handed batsman can be dropped from the playing eleven in the fourth T20. In his place, the return of star wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson to the team is considered almost certain. Sanju Samson was the ‘Player of the Tournament’ in the recently concluded ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. He participated in the first match of this series, but later he had to sit out of the playing eleven to give a chance to 15-year-old young sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Now Tilak’s poor form has again opened the doors for Samson.

Possibility of reshuffle in the top order, will the opening pair change?
15 year old young batsman Vaibhav Suryavanshi has caught everyone’s attention with his fearless and aggressive batting in his first two T20 matches. However, he has failed to convert his good start into a big or match-winning innings. Despite this, the management is in favor of giving another chance to this young player from Bihar. But, with Vaibhav being retained in the team, there may be some reshuffle in the batting order.

Varun Chakraborty is out, Washington Sundar will take command!
Apart from batting, the Indian team would also like to improve its bowling unit. Mystery spinner Varun Chakraborty’s performance in the last match was very ordinary, where he gave away 35 runs in his 3 overs without taking any wicket. In such a situation, he can be rested from the fourth match. There are full preparations to include spin-bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar in his place. The team will get double benefit from Sundar’s arrival. He is known for bowling economically in the powerplay and middle overs. Sundar has the ability to score runs quickly coming down the order, which will strengthen the Indian batting line-up.

Last chance to save the series
There is a huge pressure on the shoulders of captain Shreyas Iyer at this time. The England team is taking full advantage of its home ground and conditions, whereas the Indian team has looked completely directionless so far. If India has to keep this series alive till the fifth match, then the top order batsmen will have to take responsibility and the bowlers will have to control the rate of runs.

India’s probable playing eleven for the fourth T20

Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Shivam Dubey, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav.