India vs England 3rd T20: What Really Happened in Rajkot

Varun Chakravarthy looked like he had the game in his pocket. A five-wicket haul is usually enough to kill off any T20 contest, especially when you're ripping through the middle order of a team like England. But cricket is rarely that simple.

Honestly, the India vs England 3rd T20 at the Niranjan Shah Stadium was a bit of a weird one. You had India coming in with a 2-0 lead, looking to wrap up the series in style. Instead, they got a reminder that England’s "never-say-die" attitude isn't just a marketing slogan. They defended 171 on a pitch that everyone—including the captains—misread from the start.

The Chakravarthy Masterclass That Wasn't Enough

It’s rare to see a player win Player of the Match in a losing cause. Chakravarthy did exactly that. He finished with figures of 5/24, basically dismantling England's engine room. He got Jos Buttler. He cleaned up Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton in successive balls. For a moment, it felt like England would struggle to even reach 130.

But then, the tail wagged. Or rather, Liam Livingstone decided he’d had enough of the defensive stuff.

Livingstone’s 43 off 24 balls was the bridge England needed. Without those five sixes, England wouldn't have had a total to defend. Even more annoying for India was the final-wicket stand between Adil Rashid and Mark Wood. They added 24 runs that nobody expected. Those "extra" runs at the end are what eventually broke India's back.

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Why the Chase Fell Apart

India’s reply started shaky and never really found a rhythm. Sanju Samson fell early again, which is starting to become a bit of a talking point among fans. Abhishek Sharma showed a few sparks with a quick 24, but Jofra Archer’s catch to get rid of him was a genuine game-changer.

Suryakumar Yadav, usually the king of this format, could only manage 14.

The middle overs were where the game was actually lost. Adil Rashid was basically unplayable. He didn’t just take wickets; he choked the scoring rate. Tilak Varma, who has been in incredible form, was bowled by a beauty from Rashid for 18. When your set batters can't find the boundary for 45 balls—which is what happened to India—the pressure becomes a physical weight.

Hardik Pandya tried. He really did. His 40 off 35 balls kept a glimmer of hope alive, especially when he launched a massive six over long-off. But 12 runs per over with the tail for company is a tall order. When Jamie Overton finally got Pandya in the 19th over, it was effectively curtains.

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The Return of Mohammed Shami

One of the biggest stories of the India vs England 3rd T20 was the return of Mohammed Shami. He hadn’t played international cricket since that 2023 World Cup final. Seeing him back in the blue jersey was great, but he looked a little rusty.

He went wicketless in his three overs, giving away 25 runs.

It’s understandable, though. Coming back into a high-intensity T20 against an aggressive English lineup after 14 months away is a brutal assignment. India swapped out Arshdeep Singh to give Shami game time, and while it didn't pay off in the wickets column, getting those overs under his belt is a win for the long-term season.

Key Stats You Might Have Missed

The scoreboard says England won by 26 runs, but the nuances tell a different story:

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• Powerplay Parity: Both teams were almost neck-and-neck after six overs. England was 52/1, India was 51/3. The difference was the wickets lost.
• The Rashid Effect: Adil Rashid’s economy rate was a staggering 3.75. In a game where the average run rate was over 8, that’s basically gold dust.
• Death Over Heroics: England managed 48 runs in the final five overs. India only managed 45, despite having Pandya at the crease for most of it.

What This Means for the Series

England has kept the series alive at 2-1. If India had won here, the next two games in Pune and Mumbai would have been dead rubbers. Now, there’s genuine tension.

Suryakumar Yadav mentioned after the game that the pitch was "sticky" and that they’ll need to go back to the drawing board regarding their middle-order rotation against high-quality spin. England, on the other hand, will be buoyed by the fact that their pace attack—Archer, Wood, and Carse—finally looked like a cohesive unit.

The series now moves to Pune. India still has the upper hand, but the momentum has shifted just enough to make things interesting.

Actionable Insights for the Next Match

If you're following the rest of the series, keep an eye on these factors:

• Toss Strategy: Winning the toss and bowling first didn't work for India in Rajkot due to the lack of significant dew. In Pune, the ground history suggests the ball might come onto the bat better under lights.
• Spin Selection: India might consider if playing three specialist spinners is overkill if the pitch doesn't offer the turn Rashid found.
• Samson’s Slot: There’s growing pressure on Sanju Samson to deliver at the top. Another low score might see India looking at experimental options before the T20 World Cup later this year.