India Succumbs to England in 3rd T20I Despite Varun Chakravarthy’s Five-Wicket Heroics

India’s batting collapse overshadows Chakravarthy’s brilliant spell as England secures a 26-run victory in Rajkot.

January 28, 2025, Rajkot:
England clinched a 26-run victory against India in the third T20I in Rajkot, sealing a thrilling contest that saw India falter in their chase despite a stellar bowling performance by Varun Chakravarthy.

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Chasing 172, India faced a series of setbacks, losing wickets at regular intervals. Key batsmen Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Abhishek Sharma, and Hardik Pandya failed to capitalize, while lower-order contributions from Mohammed Shami and Dhruv Jurel were insufficient to salvage the game.

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Hardik Pandya (40) tried to anchor the chase, but his dismissal in the 19th over effectively ended India’s hopes. India was restricted to 145/9 in their 20 overs, falling short by 26 runs.

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England’s Innings
Earlier, England posted a total of 171/9 in their 20 overs. Ben Duckett was the top scorer with 51, supported by Liam Livingstone’s aggressive 43 off 24 balls. Varun Chakravarthy was the star for India, claiming an impressive five-wicket haul, including key dismissals that saw England lose seven wickets in seven overs. However, Mohammed Shami, returning to the team after 14 months, went wicketless.

Key Moments in the Match

• Varun Chakravarthy’s Spell: The spinner’s 5-wicket haul dismantled England’s middle order, restricting them to a modest total.
• India’s Collapse: The batting unit faltered under pressure, with no player managing to convert starts into substantial scores.
• England’s Bowling Depth: Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, and Jamie Overton ensured that India never gained momentum during their chase.

Score Summary:

• England: 171/9 in 20 overs (Ben Duckett 51, Liam Livingstone 43; Varun Chakravarthy 5/24)
• India: 145/9 in 20 overs (Hardik Pandya 23; Jofra Archer 2/29, Adil Rashid 2/25)

Despite the defeat, Varun Chakravarthy’s performance was a silver lining for India, showcasing his potential as a game-changer in the shortest format.

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