Cricket Match Prediction | India vs England | 3rd T20I | Jan 28 – Can IND win the series with 2 matches to spare?

IND vs ENG Match Analysis

India and England will play each other in the 3rd match of the five-match T20I series on January 28, 2025, at 7:30 PM BST at Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot.

India cruised to an easy victory in the first game, but the second win required a fight. England came tantalizingly close to securing the second match, but Tilak Verma’s brilliance ensured India heads into the third T20I unbeaten. Can India clinch the series in this match, or will England keep their hopes alive?

England currently sits third in the ICC Men’s T20I team rankings, but their recent performances have been below par. Out of their last five games, they have secured just one win, with one game ending without a result. In the ongoing five-match series against India, England has already lost the first two matches and now faces the risk of losing the series if they fail to win the third T20I in Rajkot.

IND vs ENG Team Preview & Squads

India

India is in red-hot form in T20I cricket, holding the top spot in the ICC Men’s T20I team rankings with 268 rating points.

The series against England began with a dominant performance at Eden Gardens, where India secured a comprehensive 7-wicket victory with over seven overs to spare. Varun Chakravarthy’s crafty spin and Abhishek Sharma’s explosive batting gave India the early advantage. Bowling first, India restricted England to a modest 132 all out in 20 overs. Apart from Jos Buttler, no English batter managed to settle, with Chakravarthy shining as the standout bowler, claiming 3 wickets for 23 runs in his 4 overs. Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya, and Axar Patel also contributed with two wickets each.

In the second game, IND bowled first once again. While they started strongly, England managed to push their total to 165 for 9 in 20 overs. Axar Patel impressed with 2 wickets for 32 runs, and Varun Chakravarthy added 2 more to his tally, conceding 38 runs. However, the chase began on a shaky note for India, losing two early wickets in the third over. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, Tilak Varma’s brilliance rescued the innings. His unbeaten knock of 72 off just 55 balls, featuring 4 fours and 5 sixes, steered India to a crucial victory.

Tilak Varma has been in phenomenal form, averaging 185 in his last six matches, with 371 runs at a blistering strike rate of 175. Varun Chakravarthy has also been a key weapon, claiming 22 wickets in his last nine matches while maintaining an economy rate of under 8 runs per over. India’s spin attack continues to trouble England, and with the team unbeaten in their last five matches on home soil, they look poised to seal the series in the third T20I.

India Squads

India

Hardik Pandya, Abhishek Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Yadav, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel, Ravi Bishnoi, Axar Patel, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Varun Chakravarthy, Mohammed Shami, Harshit Rana.

England 

England’s performance in the first T20I was largely forgettable, with the batters struggling against a dominant Indian bowling attack. Batting first, England managed just 132 runs, with captain Jos Buttler contributing a fighting 68. Seven of England’s batters were dismissed for single-digit scores, highlighting their struggles. The bowlers didn’t fare much better, apart from Jofra Archer, who delivered an impressive spell, taking 2 wickets for 21 runs in 4 overs. However, India comfortably chased down the target in the 13th over.

The second T20I in Chennai saw an improved showing from ENG, though it still wasn’t enough to secure a victory. Batting first, they posted a total of 165 for 9, with Jos Buttler top-scoring again with 45 runs. Contributions from Jamie Smith (22) and Brydon Carse (31) helped push the total to a respectable figure. In defense, England reduced India to 78 for 5 by the 10th over, but Tilak Verma’s masterful innings turned the game in India’s favor. Brydon Carse was the standout bowler with figures of 3 for 29.

England continues to struggle with scoring runs in Indian conditions, and their bowling attack hasn’t been consistent. A major re-strategizing effort will be needed if they are to stay alive in this crucial contest.

England Squads

England

Jacob Bethell, Jofra Archer, Jamie Overton, Phil Salt, Rehan Ahmed, Adil Rashid, Liam Livingstone, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jamie Smith, Mark Wood, Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler, Saqib Mahmood.

India vs England outfield report

Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot

One of the best batting conditions in India can be found at Rajkot. The teams batting first have won three of the five Twenty20 Internationals played here. Here, the team that wins the toss should bat first. It is predicted to be hot with plenty of sunshine and a few clouds on the day of the match at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot. The temperature will be between 16°C and 33°C at its lowest. The weather is perfect for a cricket match. It boasts some of India’s best batting conditions.

IND vs ENG Head-to-Head Stats of Last 5 Matches

In their last five encounters, England has won two and India has won three.

India vs England Prediction

Cricket analysts predict India has a 55% chance of winning.

Disclaimer: This cricket prediction is based on the author’s insights and analysis. Readers should consider the points discussed and draw their own conclusions.