The 33-year-old Varun Chakravarthy has opened on the side’s defeat in the third T20I match of the England tour of India 2025.
His five-wicket haul at the Niranjan Shah stadium proved to be a nightmare for England’s batting line-up. However, India failed to secure a victory as they were short of 26 runs in the end despite an impressive display from Abhishek Sharma.
Chakravarthy said that the team remains focused on its strategy and long-term goals. With two matches left in the series, he believes there is still room to settle into a rhythm and experiment with different batting options.
“We have to win two matches because we have to settle down a few more games and we have to test and try for other batsmen also,” said Chakravarthy.
Dismissing suggestions that the toss played a crucial role in the outcome, he pointed out that India had won their last two matches while chasing under similar circumstances.
“Sir, I don’t think the toss went against us because that’s what we have done the last two matches and we won,” he explained.
Not the result #TeamIndia were looking for in Rajkot, but Varun Chakaravarthy put on a solid show with the ball to bag the Player of the Match award!
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/amaTrbtzzJ#INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/D6dKptsI7M
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 28, 2025
Reflecting on the conditions of short format, Chakravarthy highlighted its unpredictability, stating that results could easily swing either way.
“And that’s the nature of the game, sir. The last match also went close. We could have ended up losing, and this match we could have ended up winning,” he said.
“T20 is supposed to be aggressive. You can’t complain much, and it is a very result-oriented game.”
“So, I get what you are trying to say, but this is how they have decided to play, and this is the brand of cricket the Indian team wants to play, and they are doing it well,” Chakravarthy concluded.
Despite the setback, India remained focussed on its game plan with an eye on refining its approach in the remaining matches.
Recapping the third T20I match, Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and opted to bowl first in the encounter.
Opener Ben Duckett made a half-century before being dismissed by Abhishek Sharma in Hardik Pandya’s delivery. Meanwhile, the middle order was ripped up by Varun Chakravarthy who picked 5/24.
Varun Chakravarthy is currently the leading wicket-taker in the series, having picked 10 wickets from three games at economy rate of 7.08. During the Kolkata T20Is, he picked three wickets while he scalped two wickets at Chepauk.
With England struggling for 127/8, Liam Livingstone to made an impressive knock of 43 runs in 24 balls.
England finished 171 runs at Rajkot setting a formidable target against the hosts. Hardik Pandya impressed 40 runs off 35 deliveries and putting on a 38-run partnership with Axar Patel.
With Buttler caught Pandya off Jamie Overton’s bowling in the 19th over, India ended their innings with 26 runs short.
The Men in Blues leads the series 2-1 and India will be looking to seal the series win when the face England in the fourth T20I on January 31 at MCA Stadium in Pune.
