India’s Varun Chakravarthy celebrates the wicket of England’s batsman during the 3rd T20 Cricket match between India and England at Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on Tuesday January 28, 2025.
| Photo Credit: VIJAY SONEJI

Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy continued his solid run of form in international cricket, breaking Kuldeep Yadav’s record for most wickets by an Indian spinner in a stretch of T20I matches.

Chakravarthy has been a revelation for the T20I side since his return to the set-up last year, having last played for India in 2021 before that.

In the third T20I, Chakravarthy shined with figures of 5/24 in four overs, getting wickets of skipper Jos Buttler, Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse and Jofra Archer, which completely derailed England from 83/1 to 127/8.

Now since his return to T20Is last year, Varun has played 10 matches, taking 27 wickets at an average of 10.96, an economy rate of 7.40 and best bowling figures of 5/17.

After 16 overall games, he has taken 29 wickets at an average of 14.65, with an economy rate of 6.84, which is also impressive.

Now, he has overtaken Kuldeep Yadav (25 wickets) for most wickets by an Indian spinner in the 10-match stretch in T20Is.

Globally, he stands at number three, next to Syazrul Idrus (Malaysia, 28 wickets) and Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan (Afghanistan, 30 wickets).

Indian batters faltered against an incisive England bowling attack as the visitors raised their game in a must-win scenario to win the third T20I by 26 runs and keep the five-match series alive.

Mohammed Shami made a solid comeback to international cricket after 14 months but it was Varun Chakravarthy’s bowling effort that stood out as his five-wicket haul helped India limit England to 171/9.

India should have chased down the target but the batters could only manage 145/9 in 20 overs.

India still lead the series 2-1 with the fourth game scheduled in Pune on January 31.

England’s Jos Buttler and Ben Duckett in action during the 3rd T20 Cricket match between India and England at Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on Tuesday January 28, 2025.
| Photo Credit: VIJAY SONEJI

An indifferent Indian batting line-up made a meal of England’s 171/9 as the visitor stormed back into the five-match series with a 26-run victory in the third T20I at the Niranjan Shah Stadium here on Tuesday.

The Indian top-order’s no-holds-barred approach right from the go opened the door for England and the tourist grabbed the chance with alacrity.

Each of the three English pacers used in the PowerPlay claimed a wicket as Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav perished after choosing to take the ultra-aggressive route.

Tilak Varma’s circumspect method, though, was not enough to defend his stumps against Adil Rashid (4-0-15-1).

India stood at 68 for four after eight overs and the chase now felt ever so difficult.

After four consecutive overs without a boundary, Washington Sundar felt the pinch and was unsuccessful in his attempt to clear mid-on off Jamie Overton (4-0-24-3).

The asking rate kept on increasing and India did not have the answer to the arduous question.

Once Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya went back to the hut, the England camp would have felt assured of its spirited bowling effort yielding a positive result.

Mohammed Shami — who bowled three overs for 25 on his international comeback — did hit a six in his four-ball stay but the game had become a no-contest by then.

Earlier, England fell flat in front of Varun Chakaravarthy (4-0-24-5) once again after being asked to bat first.

The first wicket to fall was that of Phil Salt who was outfoxed by Hardik. The move to bowl a full-length slower bowl after a well-directed short ball made the England opener hit one straight to Abhishek at cover.

Ben Duckett (51, 28b, 7×4, 2×6), however, ensured England recovered well. His five boundaries in a row — first three off Hardik and the others against Washington — gave an ideal launch pad for the visitor.

Suryakumar’s idea to try out the spin-bowling variety at his disposal one by one proved to be a masterstroke as Varun and Axar struck in their second overs. While Varun had Buttler caught by Samson off a seam-up delivery, the left-arm spinner made Duckett drag an attempted big hit straight to long-on.

Harry Brook’s horrid run continued as he chopped one off Ravi Bishnoi and ignited another collapse. Jamie Smith, too, fell after trying to muscle one out of the ground off Varun. Overton walking back after not troubling the scorers off the next ball put England in dire straits.

Varun was not done for the day yet as he came back to become the third Indian to claim multiple five-fors in T20Is after Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Kuldeep Yadav. After getting Carse caught in the deep, Varun brought out the googly and Archer’s defence was no match to the pearler.

Livingstone (43, 24b, 1×4, 5×6) farmed the strike at the fag end of the innings. His three mighty sixes off Bishnoi towards deep-midwicket not only rescued England but also made sure the series stayed alive at 2-1.

Mark Wood during the practice session ahead of the 3rd T20 Cricket match between India and England at Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on Monday January 27, 2025.
| Photo Credit: VIJAY SONEJI

The England bowling attack has been told not to worry about leaking runs and rather just focus on taking wickets against an ultra-aggressive Indian batting unit, senior pacer Mark Wood said on Monday.

Wood, who is in the middle of his first international commitment since July, has bowled decently in the series thus far. Fellow pacer Jofra Archer, however, conceded as many as 60 runs in four overs in the previous game in Chennai with Tilak Varma taking him to the cleaners.

India have taken their T20 game to the next level under skipper Suryakymar Yadav and England must find a way to counter them in third T20I here on Tuesday. India lead the five match series 2-0.

“We’ll just be trying to take wickets. I don’t think (Brendon) McCullum wants us to worry about runs too much, he’s all about how can we impact the game that way,” Wood said on the eve of the third T20I.

“We bowled well in the last game as a group. With the target they were chasing (167), we were always looking for that attacking option of taking wickets. Some might have went for a few runs at times but I also felt what was going to win us the game was trying to bowl them out.” England have struggled against the Indian spinners while the pace group led by Wood has posed a few challenges for the host team’s batters. Rajkot pitch usually offers plenty of runs, making it a batters versus batters contest.

“Speaking of pace against spin, I still think we’ve got one of the best spinners in the world in Adil Rashid, he’s a huge weapon for us and every time he plays, he looks like he’s going to get wickets. I wouldn’t count him out of our attack, he’s a vital part of it,” said Wood.

“And we’ve got a lot of options: Livingstone, Bethell, if he comes back. As a pace bowling group, the other night maybe there was one or two overs we might have changed but in general we kept coming at the India batters.

“One guy played exceptionally well (Tilak Varma), if the luck was slightly different: a top-edge that went for six over the wicketkeeper, if that goes straight up in the air, it’s a different story,” explained the 35-year-old.

Coming back to action after a long lay-off, Wood is satisfied with the pace he is generating but is seeking more accuracy.

“I felt a little bit hit and miss – I’ve done a couple of good things, it’s great that my pace has been up there and I feel it’s coming out my hand well but the accuracy at times hasn’t been quite where I wanted it. But when I haven’t played since August, it’s pretty much expected – I’ve played two games since then.”

“Hopefully the more I play, the better I get leading into the 50-over stuff and the Champions Trophy. I’ll keep trying my best and try to improve in training. Hopefully that narrows my focus even more.”

On India’s young guns including Varma and Abhishek Sharma, Wood added: “They play good shots. The depth of Indian batting, they have got experienced players and these young guys coming in but my concentration is on England.”

Indian players are seen during a practice session ahead of the third Twenty20 international in Rajkot on January 27, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Vijay Soneji

Sitanshu Kotak was SoSed into the Indian dugout as batting coach ahead of the England T20Is after the team’s dismal show with the willow in Australia.

The inability of the India batters — including seniors Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli — to adjust to the conditions Down Under was a major point of discussion.

Kotak, however, is not worried about the sudden nature of the call-up and is looking forward to working with the veterans and guiding the youngsters.

“Rohit and Virat are very senior players. The amount of cricket they have played and the way they have performed, it would not be unfair to say there might be a lot of things for me to learn from them. That is the way this game goes,” Kotak said during the pre-match press conference of the third T20I at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot.

When asked if he has anything specific to convey to Rohit and Kohli, Kotak added: “If they are in a mindset to take any inputs, yes, I would have certain things in my mind and I will say it, but it has to be at the right time and they should feel that they are ready for that.”

Kotak opined that a proper “plan and mindset” are needed to strike the right balance between aggression and defence.

“We see a lot of batters playing aggressive cricket because of T20. I wouldn’t say they cannot defend. Australian pitches were different, Indian wickets were different and the next series will be in England. That will be a different challenge. So, how well we can execute our plans will be more important”.

India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak addresses the media ahead of the third T20 match between India and England, in Rajkot, on January 27, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Mohammed Shami’s non-inclusion in India’s Playing XI for the first two T20Is against England had created doubts about his fitness.

India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak put an end to the speculation and gave a positive reply on the pacer’s health. Kotak, however, was not keen on revealing the reason behind the delay in the 34-year-old’s return to international cricket.

“Shami is fit, yes. I am not the one who can answer anything about why he is playing or not playing. There is a definite plan and (we are) looking ahead at the upcoming matches and ODIs. That is something coach Gautam (Gambhir) and Suryakumar (Yadav) will take a call on, but fitness is definitely not a problem,” Kotak revealed on the eve of the third T20I at the Niranjan Shah Stadium.

When asked about whether India has any specific plans for the batter-friendly pitch here, Kotak added: “Rajkot is known to be a good batting track. So, it should be a high-scoring game. I wouldn’t say (we have) any areas we will look at because England will also come up with certain plans. The batters will react to what they are bowling… every team does it and we will also do it”.

England’s team players during the practice session ahead of the third T20 international against India in Rajkot on January 27, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Vijay Soneji

Different strokes work for different folks and Tuesday’s (January 28, 2025) third T20I will reveal who among India and England got their tactics right as a high-scoring encounter beckons at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot.

While the Men in Blue found success with their deep batting line-up and a spin-heavy bowling attack, the visitor’s decision to back its pace battery struck out in the first two matches.

England, however, remains committed to its strategy and has gone with an unchanged XI. India has held its cards close to its chest.

The conundrum in front of skipper Suryakumar Yadav will be Mohammed Shami’s return to international cricket. While the think-tank will welcome the veteran pacer getting more overs under his belt ahead of the Champions Trophy, India will be wary of tinkering with a winning combination and losing sight of the immediate task at hand — getting an unassailable lead in the series.

Varun Chakaravarthy & Co. set up a modest run chase in Kolkata as the touring willow-wielders found it difficult to pick the Indian tweakers. The game’s fate was sealed in the first innings as England’s 132 was hunted down in 12.5 overs with Abhishek Sharma (79, 34b) being the wrecker-in-chief.

The Englishmen, though, had their moments in Chennai. The heroics of Jos Buttler (45, 30b) and Brydon Carse (31 off 17 balls & three for 29) were not enough for a win as England let go of a golden chance to draw level. India was reeling at 78 for five in pursuit of 166 and it took a sensational knock from Tilak Varma (72 n.o., 55b) for the host to get past the finish line.

Indian batters will have to sharpen up quickly as England bowlers are not far from getting into their groove.

Buttler’s one-man show with the bat (113 runs) is a cause for concern for England. The openers did not touch double digits in their two outings and will be hoping that the flat track and short boundaries here will turn their fortunes.

Harry Brook — who lost his stumps to Varun twice in a row — did not look at his best as he sweated it out against net bowlers on the eve of the match. The England vice-captain will be keen on finding better timing under the clear skies come match-day.

A glance at the mammoth totals amassed in the recent ODI series between the Women in Blue and Ireland here is further proof that the contest will revolve around which team can pack a punch better.

An evening full of sixes is a safe bet.

The teams:

India (from): Suryakumar Yadav (Capt.), Axar Patel (Vice-captain), Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Shivam Dube and Ramandeep Singh.

England: Jos Buttler (Capt.), Harry Brook (Vice-capt.), Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid and Mark Wood.

Match officials: On-field umpires: K.N. Ananthapadmanabhan and Rohan Pandit; Third umpire: Nitin Menon; Match referee: Javagal Srinath.

Match starts at 7 p.m.

India’s batter Tilak Varma celebrates after India won the second T20 cricket match against England, at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, in Chennai on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Tilak Varma stood tall against a fiery English attack and single-handedly guided a tricky chase by slamming a fine unbeaten half-century (72 n.o., 55b, 4×4, 5×6) as India beat England by two wickets in the second T20I at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday.

Chasing 166, the Men in Blue started strongly when Abhishek Sharma slammed Jofra Archer for three boundaries in the first over. But the English pacers were relentless and kept picking up wickets regularly to keep their side in the contest.

Tilak, who walked in at three, landed a few early punches when he smashed Archer for a boundary and two sixes in the fifth over.

On a pitch where it was not easy to play the cross-batted shots, the stylish left-handed looked serene, getting inside the line and using the pace to target the fine-leg boundary effectively.

Brydon Carse then silenced the rapturous crowd, removing Suryakumar Yadav and Dhruv Jurel in successive overs. And when Jamie Overton had Hardik Pandya caught behind, India was in trouble at 78 for five in the 10th over.

Tilak and local boy Washington Sundar (26) got the chase back on track, forging a 38-run alliance for the sixth wicket. Washington, who was dropped on 10 by Adil Rashid off Mark Wood, then made England feel the pain by collecting a six and two boundaries in the same over.

However, Carse cleaned up Washington in the next over to set the cat among the pigeons in the Indian camp.

Fortunately for the host, Tilak showed great composure and hit Archer for consecutive sixes in the 16th over, the first of which took him to his half-century in style.

Ravi Bishnoi then chipped in with two timely boundaries before Tilak fittingly finished the chase off, driving Overton through the covers to help India take a 2-0 lead.

Earlier, England managed to post 165 for nine, riding on cameos from skipper Jos Buttler (45, 30b, 2×4, 3×6) and Carse (31, 17b, 1×4, 3×6).

Buttler backed his strength of hitting through the line down the ground and collected three maximums to help his side race to 58 for two in the PowerPlay.

But, once the field spread out, the spinners quickly got on top against the middle-order.

England vice-captain Harry Brook, following the seven-wicket loss in the first T20I in Kolkata, had mentioned that the smog in the metropolis had contributed to the batters’ discomfiture against the spinners. There were no visibility issues on a pleasant and clear evening, but the English batters still struggled to handle the home team’s tweakers.

Varun, playing his first T20I in his backyard, needed just one ball to castle Brook for the second time this series.

Axar Patel then got into the act and struck twice in two overs, removing Buttler and Liam Livingstone as England slumped to 90 for five in the 12th over.

Taking charge

Carse, who replaced Gus Atkinson for this fixture, ensured that England didn’t fall apart like in the series opener. However, a mix-up with Jofra Archer cut short his innings in the 17th over and stopped England from a final flourish.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir with captain Suryakumar Yadav during a practice session ahead of the Twenty20 international against England in Kolkata.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Captain Suryakumar Yadav thinks the Indian team is moving in the right direction under coach Gautam Gambhir.

Remembering his days when he donned the Kolkata Knight Riders colours and played under Gambhir’s captaincy in the Indian Premier League, Suryakumar said, “I have played under Gauti bhai for four years. I have spent a lot of time with him, I know how he works. Even he knows how to talk to each other. It started from the Sri Lanka series… We are moving in the right direction.

“He keeps it simple and gives a lot of freedom. He lets the players express themselves inside (the ground). He knows what goes on in the minds of the players, keeps the atmosphere light and relaxed in the dressing room.”

Suryakumar said the Indian batting line-up would be flexible in the five-match T20I series against England, starting at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday (January 22, 2025).

“We want to be very flexible with the batting order. Other than the openers, from three to seven or eight, everyone needs to be really flexible with their batting,” said Suryakumar on the eve of the series opener.

“Anyone can go at any time. We have been practising for that. It will be changing with the matches.”

Suryakumar backed Sanju Samson for the wicketkeeper-batter’s job. “Currently, there is no question mark on the wicketkeeper. Sanju has done really well in the last seven-eight or 10 matches he has played. He has really shown what he is capable of,” said the India skipper.

File photo of Axar Patel.
| Photo Credit: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar

Openers are the only ones with a fixed slot in the Indian T20 line-up and the batting order that follows will be made up of “multiple floaters”, new vice-captain Axar Patel said on Monday (January 20, 2025) while spelling out the team’s strategy ahead the five-match series against England.

India will start their campaign against England in a five-match T20I series at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday (January 22, 2025).

Asked about being a floater in batting order, the all-rounder replied: “…it’s not just about me; it applies to everyone in the team.

“Right from the start of 2024, we had decided to have a fixed opening slot, and from No. 3 to No. 7, everyone has been told to be flexible based on the situation, combinations, and match-ups.” Axar, who is now a part of the team management for the series, spoke in a manner that reminded one of Rohit Sharma’s interaction before the 2023 ODI World Cup where he called for flexibility in the middle-order.

“There is no fixed position where a particular batter will always play…it’s the same for everyone in that range (between Nos 3 to 7), depending on who is having a great day, which we assess during practice sessions.

“In T20 cricket, it’s all about utilising the right batter in the right situation.” There is not much that changes for Axar as Suryakumar Yadav’s deputy except for the fact that he will now also be a part of certain hard calls that are taken by the team management.

“It’s been only one day. Yes, we (skipper Surya, head coach Gautam Gambhir and myself) have had a discussion. There is an extra responsibility on the leadership group. There is not much of a change. Obviously, we have a settled T20 side, there is not much pressure.”

“When you come into the leadership group, obviously you have to take some harsh decisions. Those also we have spoken about. It is about having a genuine opinion and keeping trust on each other.” This is the national team’s first game after the Test debacle in Australia and the all-rounder doesn’t want to fret on the bygones.

“Hum yeh bhi baat karte hain ki, jo ho gaya woh ho gaya, woh wapas nahin aanewala (Let bygones be bygones). It is about taking the positives into our next series,” he said.

Axar also welcomed veteran pacer Mohammed Shami’s return to the national set-up for the first time since ODI World Cup final on November 19, 2023. Shami had been struggling with a knee niggle after recuperating from an ankle surgery.

“It’s a very positive thing for the team. The last time he (Shami) played was in the ODI World Cup final, and since his recovery, he has performed well in both the Syed Mushtaq Ali and Vijay Hazare tournaments,” he said, referring to Shami’s recent comeback in the domestic circuit.

“Whenever a senior player makes a comeback, it gives a big boost to the team. We all know what Shami bhai brings to the table, whether it’s with the new ball or in the death overs.

“His presence, especially with the new ball, is a huge advantage for the team. Hopefully, he continues the same form he showcased in the World Cup.”