England beat Team India by 26 runs in 3rd T20I
India faced a 26-run defeat against England in the third T20I at Rajkot, struggling to chase down a target of 172 runs. The match saw Varun Chakravarthy shine with the ball, claiming an impressive five-wicket haul as England managed to score 171 runs for the loss of nine wickets. Ben Duckett was the standout performer for England, scoring 51 runs off 28 balls, while Liam Livingstone contributed a quickfire 43 off just 24 deliveries.
Chakravarthy’s exceptional bowling dismantled England’s batting lineup, taking key wickets including that of skipper Jos Buttler and Jamie Overton. After a solid start at 83 for one, England lost their way, slipping to 127 for eight due to Chakravarthy’s relentless pressure. His final figures of 5 for 24 not only marked his second five-wicket haul in T20Is but also highlighted his growing reputation as a top spinner.
In India’s reply, Hardik Pandya was the top scorer with 40 runs, but regular wickets hindered their chase, ultimately leading to their downfall. Mohammed Shami made his return to international cricket after a long absence but went wicketless. The loss leaves India with room for improvement as they look ahead in the series.