India vs. England – Cricket, March 4, 2021

The fourth and final Test of England’s tour of India gets underway on Thursday, March 4, with the hosts requiring just a draw to win the series 2-1.

However, if the previous match at the Narendra Modi Stadium is anything to go by, the fourth Test won’t go the distance. Indeed, the third Test only lasted 842 balls, with India claiming a ten-wicket victory on just the second day.

I assess the bookmakers’ odds before sharing my India vs. England fourth Test prediction and betting pick.

Much was made of the state of the pitch in the third Test, and with the fourth Test being played at the same venue, I think we can disregard the draw (6.50) as a serious outcome for this match.

As expected, India (1.40) is the clear favorite to win for the third consecutive time and clinch the series win. Meanwhile, the leading online sportsbooks view England (4.55) as the obvious outsider.

It’s safe to say that cricket fans around the world are still trying to come to terms with exactly what happened in the remarkable third Test between India and England.

In fact, last week’s match is officially the shortest Test of all time – in terms of deliveries bowled – that has ended in a result. India wrapped up the third Test in just over five sessions, following only 842 balls.

Axar Patel (6/38) and Ravichandran Ashwin (3/26) reduced England to just 112 in the first innings, although the Men in Blue could only manage 145 in reply. But when Patel (5/32) and Ashwin (4/48) tore through the tourists batting line-up in the second innings, the match was effectively over.

Rohit Sharma (25*) and Shubman Gill (15*) fired the Indians home to a comfortable ten-wicket win, leaving the hosts with a 2-1 lead in the series. Needless to say, they will now be confident of making it 3-1.

Neither side played particularly well last time out, yet there is absolutely no denying that India dealt with the conditions a whole lot better than England.

A whirlwind Test match ends with victory for India inside two days.

Scrorecard: https://t.co/27c535jFeS#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/CaiPCKFaxP

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) February 25, 2021

It wouldn’t be unfair to say that Zak Crawley (53) was the only English batsman to offer any kind of resistance in the first innings. Dom Sibley and Jonny Bairstow were both dismissed without scoring, while Joe Root (17) didn’t stay at the crease for long.

However, the England captain shone with the ball soon after. Root claimed unbelievable figures of 5/8, while Jack Leach (4/54) also impressed. But it always felt as though the match was out of the tourist’s reach.

Let’s be honest – the fact that Root was able to claim a five-wicket haul speaks volumes about the state of the pitch.

The Englishmen were bowled out for just 81 runs in the second innings, meaning that India only required 49 runs for victory. On the whole, it was a humiliating defeat for the visitors.

Given their previous performance, it is difficult to imagine Root and co. preventing India from winning the fourth and final Test. It feels like the momentum from the first-Test victory has completely disappeared.

When you consider what happened in the third Test, odds of 1.40 for India to win the fourth Test feel pretty generous. After all, the manner with which India crushed England last week was frightening.

I can’t see the visitors performing as poorly as they did last time out, but I can’t see them winning, either. All the signs are pointing towards another comfortable win for the home side.