Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium Pune Pitch Report For IND vs ENG 4th T20I

MCA Stadium, Pune [Source: @BLACKCAPS/X]

On Friday, India will take on England in the fourth T20 International of the ongoing five-match series. The high-octane clash is set to take place at Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune. 

Led by Suryakumar Yadav, India had a dream start to the series, securing consecutive wins in Kolkata and Chennai. However, England made a resounding comeback to the series, swatting aside the hosts by 26 runs in an intense affair in Rajkot. 

As the caravan shifts to Pune for the all-important fourth T20I, let's see how the surface at MCA Stadium will behave throughout the match. 

MCA Stadium Pune Stats And Records In T20Is

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MCA Stadium Pune Pitch Report: Is It Batting Or Bowling Friendly?

The surface at MCA Stadium in Pune generally offers good batting conditions. There could be a hint of movement in the air for the pacers early on, but overall, the pitch will likely be excellent for batting. In fact, the average scoring rate in four men's T20Is at this venue reads 8.25, indicating it has been a decent venue for batting. 

However, with the temperature remaining above 30 degrees Celsius, we can expect dryness on the surface. Therefore, it might get trickier to score quick runs against the older ball, and the spinners can get some turn in the middle overs. 

If there's some grass on the surface, the pitch will be more conducive to batting and might not slow down with time. If that's the case, the toss-winner will be tempted to bowl first. On the contrary, if it's a barren wicket, expect the spinners to come into play, especially in the latter half. 

In such a scenario, it won't be surprising if the toss-winning team bats first. Meanwhile, the pacers will likely hit the deck and focus on varying their pace and bowling more cutters and hard-length deliveries than the regular seam-ups. 

Players To Watch Out For At MCA Stadium In Pune

Varun Chakravarthy

• India's premier spinner Varun Chakravarthy has been a nightmare for England in the series. He has bagged ten wickets in three matches and could be a game-changer for the hosts in this encounter. 

Tilak Varma

• Young batter Tilak Varma has emerged as India's crisis man in the series. The stylish southpaw can anchor India's innings and might be a threat to the Englishmen with his elegant stroke play. 

Brydon Carse

• England's bowling all-rounder Brydon Carse has been impressive with the ball in the previous two matches. He has scalped five wickets and his brisk cameos could prove handy for the visitors in this game. 

P.S: Apart from these players, the eyes will be on Jos Buttler, Suryakumar Yadav, Arshdeep Singh (if plays), Hardik Pandya and Ben Duckett. 

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