NEW DELHI: The Indian menโs cricket team faced a 26-run defeat against England in the third match of the five-match T20I series at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on Tuesday. This victory keeps Englandโs hopes alive in the series, which now stands at 2-1 in favour of India.
Sent in to bat first by India, England posted a competitive total of 171/9. Ben Duckett set the tone for the visitors with a brisk 51 off 28 balls. The Indian bowlers, spearheaded by Varun Chakravarthyโs impressive figures of 5-24, kept the pressure on England, causing frequent breakthroughs.
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India made one change to their lineup, recalling Mohammed Shami after a 14-month absence to replace Arshdeep Singh. Unfortunately, Shami struggled to make an impact. However, crucial contributions from Liam Livingstone, who hit 43 off 24 balls, ensured England reached a defendable score.
The Indian chase began on a shaky note, losing early wickets. Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Tilak Varma fell cheaply. Englandโs bowlers, particularly Adil Rashid with an economical spell of 1-15, and Jamie Overton, who took 3-23, kept India under constant pressure.
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Hardik Pandyaโs valiant knock of 40 provided some resistance but was not enough to steer the team to victory. India managed only 145/9 in their allotted 20 overs, falling short by 26 runs.
The failures of the Indian batting lineup were glaring, with most batsmen unable to build partnerships or rotate the strike effectively. The absence of substantial contributions from the top and middle-order batsmen left too much for the lower order, which couldnโt bridge the gap.
This result breathes life into the series, with England gaining momentum heading into the final two matches. The next face-off in Pune promises another gripping contest between these two cricketing powerhouses.
