England pulled off a solid comeback in the IND vs ENG 3rd T20I at Rajkot, defeating India by 26 runs. While Varun Chakaravarthy delivered a dream spell, picking up 5 wickets for just 24 runs, India’s batting unit crumbled under pressure, handing England a much-needed win.
England’s Innings: A Rollercoaster Ride
Suryakumar Yadav, riding on his lucky toss streak, once again opted to bowl first. The big news for India was Mohammad Shami’s return to international cricket after a long break. But his comeback didn’t go as planned—he bowled decently but couldn’t grab a wicket.
England had a shaky start, losing Phil Salt (5 off 7) in the 2nd over to Hardik Pandya at just 7/1. But Ben Duckett (51 off 28) and Jos Buttler (24 off 22) took control, stitching a crucial partnership. They played some classy strokes before Buttler fell in the ninth over, attempting a flashy reverse sweep against Chakaravarthy—caught behind, and India had their opening. Axar Patel struck in the very next over, removing the well-set Duckett for 51, leaving England at 87/3.
Ravi Bishnoi finally broke his wicketless streak in the series by cleaning up Harry Brook off just 8 runs. Then came the Chakaravarthy show in the 14th over. Chakaravarthy removed Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton in consecutive deliveries, almost pulling off a hat-trick. However, Brydon Carse survived and denied him the milestone.
Liam Livingstone (42 off 24) played a crucial late cameo, ensuring England reached a fighting total of 171/9 in 20 overs. Despite Chakaravarthy’s masterclass, India had a challenging chase ahead.
India’s Chase: A Missed Opportunity
Needing 172 to win, India’s batting lineup never really got going. Sanju Samson (3 off 6) fell early to Jofra Archer, and soon after, Abhishek Sharma (24 off 14) followed, leaving India at 31/2.
Hardik Pandya was the only Indian batter who showed some resistance, scoring a fighting 40. But with no real support from the other end, the chase kept slipping away. Suryakumar Yadav (14 off 7) had another forgettable outing with the bat, while Tilak Varma, Washington Sundar, and Axar Patel failed to make an impact.
England’s bowlers stuck to their plans, piling pressure on the Indian batters. As wickets kept falling, the required run rate kept climbing, and in the end, India could only manage 145/9, falling short by 26 runs.
Takeaways from the Match
- Varun Chakaravarthy’s spell was a treat to watch. A five-wicket haul in T20 cricket is always special, and he made sure to make it count.
- India’s batting unit needs to step up. With three failures in a row, Suryakumar Yadav will have to lead from the front as a batter in the next match.
- England’s comeback keeps the series alive. With this win, they’ve shown they’re not going down without a fight.
With two more matches left in the IND vs ENG series, the battle is heating up. Can India bounce back, or will England ride on this momentum? Rajkot gave us a thriller—let’s see what’s next!
