Tue Jan 28 18:01:39 UTC 2025: ## England Stuns India in Rajkot Thriller, Winning Third T20I by 26 Runs
**Rajkot, India** – England secured a thrilling 26-run victory over India in the third T20I at Rajkot, snapping India’s winning streak in the series. Despite a late flourish from Liam Livingstone (43 off 24) boosting England to 171/9, their innings was initially hampered by a sensational five-wicket haul from Varun Chakravarthy (5/24) who decimated the English middle order.
India’s chase faltered early, losing wickets consistently to disciplined bowling. The hosts struggled immensely, managing only a single boundary between the seventh and fifteenth overs, and found themselves teetering at 78/4 after 10 overs. Despite a valiant effort from Hardik Pandya (40 off 35), India’s chase ultimately fell short, finishing on 145/9. Adil Rashid (1/15) and Jamie Overton (3/29) were instrumental in stifling India’s batting lineup. The lack of boundaries and the constant pressure applied by the England bowlers ultimately proved too much for the hosts to overcome.
The match saw the return of Mohammed Shami to international cricket for India after a break since the 2023 World Cup final. Arshdeep Singh was rested for this encounter.
This victory marks England’s first win of the series. While India maintains a lead in the series, this unexpected result adds significant drama to the upcoming matches.
First Piper 