England Shatters India’s Home T20I Streak in Nail-Biting Finish
Cricket fans at Rajkot’s Niranjan Shah Stadium felt the tension all evening as England handed India a rare defeat in their own backyard. With a 26-run win in the third T20I, England injected fresh life into the series, now trailing 2-1 and proving they won’t go quietly.
The visitors were rattled early by Varun Chakravarthy, whose masterful spell of 5 for 20 made India's bowlers look dangerous and England's batters wary. When England slumped to 7 for 7 in the seventh over, it looked like the match might fizzle out. Instead, Ben Duckett played with poise, anchoring the middle order with a cool-headed fifty. His 51 runs stitched together a wobbling innings, giving the crowd glimpses of English grit under fire.
Liam Livingstone gave Duckett perfect support—not just as a sidekick, but as an explosive force. Pouncing on anything loose, Livingstone hammered 43 off just 24 balls, helping England put up a competitive 171 for 9. England’s recovery from that early collapse owed much to patience, controlled aggression, and their ability to counter one of India’s best spinners currently in form.
India’s Hopes Dashed by Batting Woes
Chasing 172, India looked to their top stars for stability. But consistency disappeared almost as soon as the chase began. Hardik Pandya fought back with a battling 40, showing flashes of his old form and giving India brief moments of hope. But as wickets kept tumbling at the other end, pressure mounted, and the required run rate galloped out of reach.
England’s spin duo, Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed, cranked up the pressure during the middle overs. Each time India looked to stitch a partnership, Rashid and Ahmed pried apart the batting with sharp lines and clever changes of pace, snuffing out resistance before it could build. England’s fielders backed their bowlers with intensity, cutting off boundaries and capitalizing on half-chances.
Surprisingly, Mohammed Shami, back in the side after 14 months away, went wicketless. He looked rusty, but India had initially looked set thanks to Chakravarthy’s brilliance. However, that cushion vanished as England’s bowlers hunted in packs.
- Ben Duckett’s resilience and Livingstone’s fireworks set up England’s total.
- Varun Chakravarthy’s five-wicket haul was the standout Indian moment.
- Regular wickets throughout the chase meant India never found momentum.
- England’s victory snapped India’s remarkable 17-series unbeaten home streak stretching back to 2019.
The T20I series now looks wide open, with two matches left and both teams hungry to seize the upper hand. After this result, England have reminded everyone they remain a world-class side, even amid adversity. For India, it’s a wake-up call—home advantage means nothing if momentum and discipline slip for even a session.