Ind vs Eng 3rd T20I Highlights: England make comeback, defeat India by 26 runs, series now 2-1

Varun Chakravarthy seems to slow down the batters in his over. Economic spell by the spinner, gives just three runs off the over. Powerplay ends. ENG 52/1 (6)

Washington Sundar’s over turns out to be an expensive one for India. With Ben Duckett on the other side, the over has so far seen two consecutive 4s and a sixer. India take DRS for Duckett but losses. ENG 49/1 (4)

Buttler takes a risky single on Pandya’s second ball. SKY throws on stumps but misses. Excellent fielding effort by Dhruv Jurel. Saves a single. The fourth delivery is sent towards the boundary. The batters eye to make the most of the Powerplay. And three back-to-back boundaries come from Duckett’s bat. England gets a much required push in this over. ENG 34/1 (4)

After an early loss, the England batters will try to bring stability and quick runs on the scoreboard. Buttler tries for big shot on Shami’s third delivery but fails. A bit of timing issue there, maybe! All England wants is less dots and more 4s and 6s. The last ball of the spell goes for a sixer from Duckett’s bat. ENG 21/1 (3)

Hardik Pandya comes in to throw the second over of the match. The Indian all-rounder takes down Phil Salt at 5 runs. India gets early advantage in the game. England skipper Jos Buttler comes out to play. The last ball goes for a boundary. ENG 12/1 (2)

Opener Philip Salt and Ben Duckett open the innings for England. Salt faces first ball from India ace pacer Shami and hits for a straight boundary on the second delivery. Shami gives 6 runs off first over. ENG 6/0 (1)

England skipper Jos Buttler said after the toss, “It looks like a really good surface, so we’re looking forward to batting. We would’ve preferred to chase, but it’s still a good wicket. The boys had a solid practice session yesterday and we’re excited for the challenge. The last match was a great contest—we fought hard and pushed India all the way. Tonight, we’ll need to play exceptionally well. India is a strong team, and we’ll aim for a solid total to defend. The team remains the same, except Jamie Smith will keep wickets as Salt has a slight calf stiffness.”

Suryakumar Yadav looked confident after the toss. He said the team is all pumped for the game and aims to maintain the winning streak. “We’ll bowl first. The pitch looks nice and hard, and I don’t think it will change much later. Rajkot has always offered good tracks, so I’m confident this will be a sporting one. While we aim to play a different brand of cricket, it’s equally important to read the situation. From here, we’re treating it as a three-game series, and the boys are fired up. Arshdeep is resting, and Shami comes into the XI,” SKY said after the toss.

England‘s Playing XI: Philip Salt, Ben Duckett, Jos Buttler(c), Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Smith(w), Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

India Playing XI: Sanju Samson(w), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Dhruv Jurel, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakravarthy

The Niranjan Shah Stadium has hosted five T20 matches, with teams batting first winning three and teams bowling first clinching victory twice. The highest total at this venue was India’s 228 against Sri Lanka in 2023, while the lowest was South Africa’s 87 all out against India in 2022.

India also holds the record for the highest chase at this ground, successfully pursuing 202 against Australia in 2013. The lowest total defended here came in 2017 when New Zealand restricted India to 196, securing a memorable win.

India and England have faced each other 27 times in T20Is, with the Men in Blue claiming victory in 16 matches, while England has won 11 encounters.

India has won the toss, third time in a row. Suryakumar Yadav opts to bowl first. The captain said that Shami will be playing this game. The pacer will be playing after a hiatus of 14 months. Arshdeep Singh will rest this one out. Stay tuned.

The average first-innings total in the five T20Is played at Rajkot stands at an impressive 189, hinting at another run-fest. In their last outing here, India posted a commanding 228 for 5 against Sri Lanka. Recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches on this ground also featured several 170-plus totals.

The pitch, pale and devoid of much grass, seems tailor-made for batters, further fueling expectations of a high-scoring encounter. Interestingly, teams chasing have enjoyed greater success in T20 games at this venue, making the toss a potentially decisive factor.

England skipper Jos Buttler has been the lone beacon of consistency for his team in the series, scoring 68 in the first T20I and 45 in the second. However, he has often found himself carrying the team’s batting burden with minimal support from his teammates.

With the series on the line and a must-win game ahead on a batting-friendly pitch, expect the England captain to pull out all the stops and lead from the front in an all-out effort to keep his team alive in the contest.

Brendon McCullum’s debut as England‘s white-ball coach hit a rough patch as India powered to a commanding seven-wicket win in the opening T20I at Eden Gardens. The star of the night was Abhishek Sharma, whose scintillating 34-ball 79 all but sealed the game in favor of the hosts.

The Indian openers, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, set an electrifying pace, putting up a brisk 41-run stand in just 4.1 overs. Abhishek, in particular, was unstoppable, hammering five boundaries and eight towering sixes to dismantle England’s bowling attack with ruthless efficiency.

England’s modest total of 132 was never going to be enough, and Abhishek ensured the chase was a breeze. The Indian bowlers had earlier set the stage for dominance, keeping the English batters on a tight leash throughout their innings.

For McCullum and his side, it was a baptism of fire, while India delivered a statement win to kick off the series in style.

The third T20I match between India and England will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network. The match can also be streamed live on Disney+ Hotstar.

Tilak Varma’s celebration after guiding India to victory in the 2nd T20I was nothing short of cinematic—a moment that could easily be a scene from an epic sports drama. As his teammates erupted in cheers, their applause echoed the importance of his match-winning contribution. It was a fitting tribute to a player whose star continues to rise.

Though Varma has already made headlines with two stunning centuries in South Africa, his knock in Chennai stood out for its sheer grit. Battling on a sluggish, two-paced pitch that tested the mettle of both teams, Varma’s unbeaten innings not only showcased his adaptability but also highlighted his mental toughness.

On a track where stroke-making was a challenge, Varma’s ability to anchor the chase was a masterclass in composure and timing. His innings proved to be the turning point, a shining example of how a single player can tilt the scales in a high-pressure game.

Among the 12 Indian venues that have hosted at least five T20Is, only Wankhede (9.34) and Mohali (9.03) boast a higher run rate than Rajkot, which stands at an impressive 8.91.

England has opted for an unchanged playing XI for the third T20I against India, set to take place in Gujarat’s Rajkot. The announcement, made a day before the game, continues England’s tradition of revealing their lineup in advance.

Facing a must-win scenario, the Three Lions find themselves on the brink of losing the series after back-to-back defeats in the first two matches. While India dominated the series opener, England showed resilience in Chennai, falling short in a closely contested battle.

For the crucial third match, Ben Duckett and Philip Salt will once again open the innings, with skipper Jos Buttler occupying the pivotal No. 3 position. The middle order will feature the dynamic quartet of Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton. England’s bowling attack will be spearheaded by pace trio Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, with Adil Rashid as the sole specialist spinner. Livingstone is expected to contribute with his leg-spin as a secondary bowling option.

England (Playing XI): Ben Duckett, Philip Salt(w), Jos Buttler(c), Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

Ahead of the crucial third T20I against England in Rajkot, India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak confirmed that ace pacer Mohammed Shami is fit and available. However, whether the seasoned bowler will make his return to the playing XI remains uncertain.

Shami, who was included in the squad for the England series after a hiatus of more than a year, has yet to take the field in the ongoing series. He has spent both matches so far watching from the dugout.

Addressing the media at the pre-match press conference, Kotak said, “Shami is fit, yes. But I’m not the one who can confirm if he’ll play. That’s a decision for coach Gautam (Gambhir) and captain Surya (Suryakumar Yadav) to make. Fitness isn’t a concern; it’s more about how they plan to manage his workload.”

With India leading the five-match series 2-0, the team management might weigh the option of easing Shami back into action while keeping an eye on upcoming fixtures.

Arshdeep Singh is on the brink of history, needing just two more wickets to become the first Indian cricketer to claim 100 T20I wickets. Having already overtaken Yuzvendra Chahal as India‘s leading wicket-taker in the shortest format, Arshdeep continues to solidify his legacy in T20 cricket. Will he able to do it tonight? Time will tell. Stay tuned!

The IND vs ENG T20I match will start at 7:00 PM IST. The toss for the game will be done at 6:30 PM.

India and England third T20I will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network. The match can also be streamed live on Disney+ Hotstar.

The weather in Rajkot tonight is reported to remain clear, with no chance of rain, according to AccuWeather. The maximum temperature will hover around 32 degrees Celsius, while the minimum will drop to 15 degrees.

The pitch at Rajkot’s Niranjan Shah Stadium is famous for its batting-friendly nature, promising a run-fest for fans. A high-scoring contest is likely, as the track typically favors batters. Historically, teams batting first have held the upper hand at this venue, making the toss a potentially game-changing moment.

Predicted XIs: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ramandeep Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakravarthy

England predicted XI: Ben Duckett, Phil Salt (wk), Jos Buttler (c), Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

Jos Butler-led England team will be aiming to win tonight’s game against India if it wants to keep the series hopes alive. Suryakumar Yadav and team are riding high on confidence with two back-to-back wins. While the first win seemed easy, India had to put in more efforts to emerge victorious in the second game. With all eyes are on Rajkot tonight, we will bring you the latest updates of the game here. Stay tuned!