England Secures Vital Victory Over India in Thrilling 3rd T20I to Keep Series Alive

Rajkot, January 29, 2025 – England delivered a commanding performance in the third T20 International against India, securing a much-needed 26-run victory at the Niranjan Shah Stadium.

This win keeps the five-match series alive, with the scoreline now reading 2-1 in favor of the hosts.

After being put into bat by India, England posted a competitive total of 171/9 in their 20 overs. Despite losing wickets in clusters, contributions from Ben Duckett (51 off 28) and Liam Livingstone (43 off 24) helped steady the innings.

Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy was the standout bowler, claiming a remarkable five-wicket haul with figures of 5/24, earning him the Player of the Match award despite being on the losing side.

England’s bowlers then took center stage, dismantling India’s batting lineup with precision. Jamie Overton led the charge with figures of 3/24, while Brydon Carse (2/28) and veteran spinner Adil Rashid (1/15) applied pressure during critical moments.

Rashid’s tight middle-overs spell choked India’s scoring opportunities, dismissing key batter Tilak Varma with a brilliant delivery.

Chasing 172, India faltered early and never recovered. Wickets fell at regular intervals as England’s disciplined bowling attack exploited weaknesses in India’s batting order. Captain Hardik Pandya top-scored with a gritty 40 off 35 balls, but his slow start drew criticism from former cricketers like Parthiv Patel for failing to rotate the strike effectively.

India eventually finished at 145/9, falling short by 26 runs. Apart from Hardik, only Abhishek Sharma (24 off 14) showed some intent, but it wasn’t enough to rescue the hosts.

England skipper Jos Buttler praised his team’s resilience, particularly highlighting Adil Rashid as their “trump card” for his ability to adapt quickly to conditions. He’s got so much variety and always seems to figure out how to bowl on any wicket, Buttler said during the post-match press conference.

On the Indian side, captain Suryakumar Yadav admitted that poor execution in both batting and bowling cost them the game. He credited England’s bowlers for their performance and expressed confidence in bouncing back in the next match.

The fourth T20I will take place on Friday, January 31, in Pune. With momentum shifting slightly toward England, India will aim to regroup and seal the series, while England will look to level it at 2-2.

This thrilling contest has set up an exciting finish to what has been a fiercely competitive series so far. Fans can expect more high-stakes action as both teams fight for supremacy.