Win Projections to be updated soon2nd T20I, Chennai, January 25, 2025, 07:00 PM
England
165/9(20.0ov)
India
166/8(19.2ov)
India beat England by 2 wickets
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Man of the Match
Tilak Varma
Commentry
Right then, that is it from this game and hosts India have taken a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series and can seal the series in the next game. England on the other hand will be much more confident with how they played in this game and would want to get the next win and make the series interesting. The 3rd T20I will be played in Rajkot on Tuesday, the 28th of January and will begin at 7 pm IST (1.30 pm GMT) but you can join us an hour in advance for the build-up as well. Till then, take care and goodbye!
Tilak Varma is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his match-winning knock. Varma starts by saying that the wicket was slightly two-paced and wickets were falling at the other end but remembered what the coach told him and he tried to play according to the situation. Adds that the team has decided that the left-hand right-hand combination is the way to go at the top in order to keep the bowlers guessing. Mentions that he faced very quick pacers in South Africa where the ball was coming on much quicker and that's why he was able to play the English pacers. Ends by applauding Ravi Bishnoi and the two crucial boundaries he hit.
Suryakumar Yadav, the skipper of India says England bowled very well and is happy to have gotten over the line. Adds that they have been playing with an extra batter for the past few series which gives them a good cushion and allows some aggressive brand of cricket but also mentions how the team adapts to situations like in this game. Appreciates Tilak Varma's knock and also says Ravi Bishnoi puts a lot of effort during the practice and wants to contribute with both bat and ball. Lauds Arshadeep Singh as well. States that the atmosphere in the dugout is very calm and they will keep trying to play this brand of cricket.
Jos Buttler, the captain of England says that it was a great game and it was an exciting ending and gives credit to Tilak for getting India over the line. Adds that it was good to push India and reckons that they did well to end to a nearly defendable score. Mentions that there were a lot of positives and goes on to mention debutant Jamie Smith and Brydon Carse for the way they played. Adds that the Indian spinners are always going to take wickets which he doesn't mind as long as they are getting hit as well.
The presentation ceremony...
Earlier in the game, Suryakumar Yadav put England into bat first and just like the first T20I, it was Arshdeep Singh who git rid of Phil Salt with a short delivery early on. And just like the previous game, it was Jos Buttler who looked England's best batter and played some eye-catching shots. The Indian spinners did make a mark in the innings as well and Varun Chakravarthy picked up a couple of big wickets and so did Axar Patel. As for England debutant Jamie Smith showed good promise and so did Brydon Carse who then got run out at a crucial juncture as England huffed and puffed to 165 runs. In reply, we got a cliffhanger of a game but it was Tilak Varma and his calm head that was the difference between the two teams.
Ravi Bishnoi is down for a quick chat. He says when he went out to bat they decided to keep things simple and not take any unnecessary risks. Mentions that with a slip in place, he knew Livingstone would look to try and get him out so he took the chance and found the boundary. Appreciates the way Tilak batted and says he is consistently performing well and is up to something big going ahead.
England will be disappointed in the end and will think that they had this one in the bag more than once in that run chase. Jofra Archer and Mark Wood bowled a fiery spell up top and picked up a couple of wickets but Archer leaked a few too many boundaries and it was then the likes of Brydon Carse and Adil Rashid who stepped up in the middle overs and got England into a position of promise. Rashid dropped Sundar's catch as well which did cost England about 15 or so runs and then Archer's final over went for plenty, putting the visitors on the back foot again. They fought well and took it deep but just couldn't get rid of Varma nor could they stop the tailenders from getting those streaky boundaries and will now have to win 3 on the bounce to seal a comeback series win.
Needing 166 runs for victory, India got out of the blocks quickly again but their openers were undone by some serious pace bowling. Tilak Varma though kept the ante up in the Powerplay and even Suryakumar Yadav got a few boundaries away before getting out. India though were pegged back soon as they went from 58/2 to 78/5 and needed a partnership of some sorts. It was the local boy, Washington Sundar who lended a hand to Varma and the pair got the hosts back in front before the tables turned yet again. India lost wickets in a heap but Varma kept his cool and thanks to a few boundaries got away by Arshdeep Singh and then Ravi Bishnoi, Varma managed to steer his side over the line.
What a finish to the game and Tilak Varma blasts off in celebration and rightly so. The game ebbed and flowed one way then the other but in the end, it is India who have managed to get over the line right at the death and take a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series. But spare a thought for England, they made a match out of this one and were even ahead at one stage but simply couldn't hang on.
In over# 20
4
2
Jamie Overton 20/1(2.2)
19.2
4
FOUR! Tilak Varma takes India home! Jamie Overton lands it full and on off, Tilak Varma crunches his drive through covers and finds the fence. Takes off for a celebratory sprint and acknowledges the cheer from the crowd and his team. With this 2 wickets victory, India take a 2-0 lead in the series.
19.1
2
Great effort from Liam Livingstone to save a couple of runs for his side. This is pitching full and on leg, Tilak Varma flicks it well wide of deep backward square leg and Livingstone moves across at lightning speed, puts in a dive with an outstretched right hand and makes a fantastic stop. The batters take two runs.
Who will bowl the final over? India are just a big hit away from victory and it will be Jamie Overton who will try and defend 5 runs for England who will have an extra fielder inside the ring due to the slow over rate.
In over# 19
0
4
1
2
0
0
Liam Livingstone 14/1(2)
18.6
.
A huge appeal for LBW, but is turned down by the umpire. England send it upstairs for a review. This is flighted full, on middle and leg, Ravi Bishnoi looks to sweep but is beaten onto his front pad. The UltraEdge shows no spike as the ball passes the bat and the glove. The Ball Tracking confirms the ball to be pitching outside leg and the onfield call of NOT OUT stays. India need 6 runs off 6 balls.
18.5
4
FOUR! What a great shot under pressure! Livingstone tosses it up, on middle, Ravi Bishnoi makes room and slices it over backward point for a boundary. India need just 6 more runs now.
18.4
1
Full, on off, Tilak Varma nails the sweep to deep square leg and takes a single.
18.3
2
Excellent running this! On a fuller length, on middle, Tilak Varma nudges it in front of deep mid-wicket and calls for two straightaway. Ravi Bishnoi responds accurately and scampers back with a dive. India need 11 runs off 9 balls now.
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