IND vs ENG, 3rd T20I, 2024-25: Varun Chakravarthy's brilliant 5-24 goes in vain as India's batters fail to chase. England win the third T20I by 26 runs. India lead the series 2-1.
Brief Scores: IND vs ENG, Third T20I: India 146/9 (Hardik Pandya 40, Jamie Overton 3/23, Adil Rashid 1/15) lost to England 171/9 (Ben Duckett 51, Liam Livingstone 43, Varun Chakravarthy 5/24) by 26 runs. India leads the series 2-1.
England produced an all-round performance in what was a comeback international game for Mohammad Shami after a gap of 15 months.
Earlier in the contest, Varun Chakravarthy picked up his second T20I fifer, but it ended in vain as it was overshadowed by an economical spell by Adil Rashid (1/15). His spell proved decisive, giving England their first win of the series by 26 runs.
Talking Point: Is Suryakumar Yadav losing his shin in T20Is?
Suryakumar Yadav, arguably the best T20I batter of India in the last few years, has struggled to get going recently. In his previous 10 innings, including this one at Rajkot, Surya accumulated just 172 runs with a solitary 50+ score.
While India are still winning these games, his form is a cause of concern for the team in the long run. It will be interesting to see if the batter is losing his shin in the format or if it’s just a momentary dip in form.
Read More: IND vs ENG, 2nd T20I, 2024-25: Tilak Varma anchors successful chase; India 2-0 up in series
Varun’s fifer sinks England's innings
After opting to bowl first, India had a great start, with pacer Hardik Pandya sending Phil Salt in the second over of the innings. However, courtesy of Ben Duckett’s belligerence, England scored 52 at the end of powerplays.
The left-hander, along with his in-form skipper Jos Buttler, added 76 runs in just 45 balls before the latter was stumped off Varun Chakaravarthy. This dismissal opened the floodgates for India as their spinners took control of the middle overs, and from 83/1, England were reduced to 108/4 in the 13th over. Then Varun completely turned the game around taking four wickets in his next two overs as England sank further to 127/8 after 16 overs.
However, a smashing effort from Livingstone, who blasted 43 off just 24, and a useful unbroken 24-run stand for the last wicket meant the visitors recovered to set a respectable of 172 for India.
England bowlers make it difficult for India to score
The start was far from ideal for the hosts’ India as they lost their opener, Sanju Samson, in the third over to Jofra Archer, and in-form Abhishek Sharma fell to Brydon Carse in the next. India captain Suryakumar once again got out for a paltry score as the team lost three wickets for 51 at the end of powerplays.
Last match hero Tilak Varma (18) was the next to depart courtesy of a beautiful leg break from Adil Rashid, and at the halfway mark, India still had 94 runs to win with six wickets in the hut. The next five overs yielded just 22 runs with Rashid returning with a brilliant 1/15 in his four-over spell. Hardik Pandya played some shots to keep India in the hunt but disciplined bowling from England kept the India batters at bay in the last five overs.
Statistical Highlights from India vs England, Third T20I
Ben Duckett registered his second T20I fifty.
Varun Chakravarthy now has the most wickets for India (10) in a bilateral T20I series between India and England.
Chakravarthy registered his second fifer in T20Is.
England's 171-9 is their highest first-innings team total in a T20I against India in India.
Sanju Samson is the tenth India opener to cross the 500-run mark (batting at 1-2) in T20Is.
Tilak Varma got out for the first time in his last 5 innings. This streak ended after he registered 336 runs in his last 5 innings.
Adil Rashid's spell of 4-0-15-1 is the joint-second most economical spell for an England bowler against India in T20Is.
What’s Next
England kept the series alive by producing a clinical performance at Rajkot. With India still ahead by 2-1, they will look to seal the game at Pune on 31 January, while England would love to draw level before going into the fifth.
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