India secured a nail-biting win against England in the 2nd T20I, thanks to a stellar performance by Tilak Varma. With this hard-fought victory, India now leads the five-match T20I series 2-0. The game saw multiple twists and turns, with both teams wrestling for dominance until the very end.
Chasing a target of 166, India got off to a rapid start but faced setbacks as their openers fell to England’s fiery pace attack. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, Tilak Varma held the innings together with his calm and composed approach. He adapted brilliantly to the situation, capitalizing on loose deliveries and maintaining the scoreboard pressure. After India slumped to 78/5, Varma found support in local boy Washington Sundar, whose sensible knock brought stability. However, another collapse saw the hosts teetering, but Varma’s resilience, combined with crucial late boundaries by Arshdeep Singh and Ravi Bishnoi, took India over the finish line.
After the game, Ravi Bishnoi credited Varma for his outstanding innings and revealed how they kept their approach simple in the final overs. Bishnoi highlighted the importance of playing without unnecessary risks, which paid off in the high-pressure moments.
England, on the other hand, came agonizingly close to defending their total. Jofra Archer and Mark Wood delivered a blistering spell upfront, while Adil Rashid and Brydon Carse kept India on their toes in the middle overs. However, key moments slipped through England’s grasp, such as a dropped catch by Rashid that proved costly. Archer’s final over leaked crucial runs, giving India the edge.
Earlier, England was put into bat and managed 165, thanks to a fluent knock by Jos Buttler. The England skipper played with authority but lacked significant support from the middle order. Debutant Jamie Smith and Brydon Carse showed promise but couldn’t convert their starts. The Indian spin duo of Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel made an impact, claiming crucial wickets to restrict the visitors.
After the match, Buttler acknowledged Tilak Varma’s brilliance and credited his team for their fighting spirit. He praised Smith and Carse for their efforts while emphasizing areas for improvement. Suryakumar Yadav, India’s captain, lauded the team’s adaptability, especially Tilak Varma’s temperament under pressure.
The third T20I will be played in Rajkot on January 28, offering England a chance to bounce back and keep the series alive. Tilak Varma, named Player of the Match, said he focused on adapting to the two-paced pitch and expressed gratitude to his teammates for their support during the tense chase.