After losing two straight games, England defeated India by 26 runs in the third match at Rajkot’s Niranjan Shah Stadium to keep themselves in the five-match series. With two games remaining, this has effectively set up the series, keeping England in the must-win zone as the hosts only need one win to win the T20I series.
India’s batting strategy and the choice to bowl first on a wicket where the ball gripped and turned have come under fire in the wake of the Rajkot defeat.
Despite the disappointing outcome, Varun Chakravarthy, the best player for the Men in Blue, has supported the batters’ strategy.
Varun Chakravarthy took five wickets.
During the press conference held after the game, Chakravarthy stated, “We need to win two games because we need to settle down a few more games and we have to test and try for other batsmen also.”
Since we have won the last two games by doing that, I don’t think the toss went against us. That’s just the way the game is, sir. The previous game came very close as well. Since T20 is meant to be an aggressive sport, we may have lost this match and won this one.
“There isn’t much room for complaint, as the game is heavily focused on outcomes. I understand what you’re trying to say, but this is the style of cricket they have chosen to play, and the Indian team is succeeding at it,” Chakravarthy continued.
Regarding Chakravarthy’s performance, he took 5/24 in his four overs to finish with his second-best T20I figures. In a rare instance where a player from the losing team received the award, he was declared the Player of the Match.
India
