Will Sanju Samson return as India battle for survival?:Axar Patel set for 100th T20I match; Shreyas Iyer waits for first win as captain

After a crushing 125-run defeat at Trent Bridge, India head to Bristol for the fourth T20I against England on 9 July. The match will be played at the County Ground, with the action set to begin at 10:00 PM IST. Shreyas Iyer, India’s new T20I captain, is desperate to register his first victory after a 0-2 series whitewash against Ireland and back-to-back defeats to England. The hosts currently lead the five-match series 2-0, making this a must-win game for India to avoid a second consecutive T20I series defeat. Notably, the opening T20I was washed out due to rain. Following the loss in the third T20I, Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir said that Sanju Samson’s comeback in the series cannot be ruled out and that he has given the opener clarity. After a dismal batting performance from India in Nottingham, will India recall Samson in the playing XI, just to break the chain of left-handers? Samson has not been in good form in recent times, but not very long ago, he was Player of the Tournament in India’s victorious T20 World Cup campaign. Match Details Match: India vs England, 4th T20I , 2026
Date: 9 July 2026, Thursday
Time: 10:00 pm, toss at 9:30 pm IST
Venue: County Ground, Bristol
Where to watch: Sony Sports Network (telecast), Sony LIV (streaming), JioHotstar (streaming)
Where to follow: Catch all live updates from the match on Bhaskar English IND vs ENG, head-to-head record in T20Is India and England have met 33 times in T20 internationals. India hold the upper hand with 18 victories, while England have won 14 matches. One encounter between the two sides ended without a result. Axar Patel’s 100th T20I appearance for India Indian all-rounder Axar Patel is set to make his 100th T20I appearance in Bristol. So far, he has played 99 matches in the shortest format of the game. As an all-rounder, he has scored 746 runs at a strike rate of 131.10. With the ball, Axar has taken 101 wickets at an economy rate of 7.44. Notably, he is a two-time T20 World Cup winner, having been part of India’s title-winning squads in 2024 and 2026. Abhishek remains consistent, Arshdeep still the best with the ball Despite poor batting performance, India opener Abhishek Sharma remains consistent so far. He is the leading run-scorer of the series with 112 runs in three matches. He has scored runs with a strike rate of 203.63, including one half-century. On the other hand, Arshdeep Singh is still the best for the visitors with three wickets in three matches. He conceded runs with an economy of 9.50, including one maiden over against Phil Salt in the 3rd T20I. Bethell, Curran crucial for England’s success English middle-order batter, Jacob Bethell, is the third-highest run-scorer in the IND vs ENG T20I series. He has scored 89 runs in three matches, with a strike rate of 161.81. However, all-rounder Sam Curran is the highest wicket-taker of the T20I series so far. He has taken four wickets, conceding runs with an economy of 8.28 in three matches played. Ishan Kishan boasts 190+ strike rate against Adil Rashid Ishan Kishan boasts a strike rate of 195 against seasoned spinner Adil Rashid. Rashid might have dismissed Kishan two times, but the Indian right-hander has slammed 39 runs, facing 20 balls in three innings during the battle. Balanced battle between Phil Salt and Arshdeep Singh India pacer Arshdeep Singh has an upper hand against Phil Salt, dismissing the England opener three times in the past. Salt has scored 31 runs, facing 30 balls in seven innings with a moderate strike rate of 103.33. Notably, the Punjab speedster has conceded runs with a cheap economy of 6.20, including a maiden over during the 3rd T20I. County Ground pitch report The pitch in Bristol is expected to provide a fair contest between bat and ball. Fast bowlers could get some movement with the new ball, while spinners are likely to play a role during the middle overs. The surface also offers good bounce, helping pacers generate extra pace and carry. As the match progresses, batting is expected to become easier. With short boundaries and favourable chasing conditions under lights, teams winning the toss may prefer to bowl first. Bristol weather report The weather will be 33% cloudy as the temperature will be around 30° to 35° in the afternoon. There is no chance of rain as the wind gusts will be 26 km/h. However, the humidity will be 31%, followed by a 19° dew point in Bristol.