Tilak Varma’s Heroics Give India a 2-0 Lead in the T20I Series Against England

Tilak Varma’s match-winning performance helped India secure a thrilling two-wicket victory over England in the second T20I. This win gives India a 2-0 lead in the series.

Early Struggles for India

India faced early setbacks. Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for 12 runs by Mark Wood. Sanju Samson followed soon after, falling to Jofra Archer for 5 runs. However, Tilak Varma and captain Suryakumar Yadav fought back. Both played aggressive shots, keeping India in the game.

Carse Dominates the Batting

Brydon Carse kept troubling India. He dismissed Suryakumar Yadav for 12 in the final over of the powerplay. India struggled at 39/3, and the middle phase became tough.

Tilak and Sundar Build a Partnership

At 79/5, Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar added 38 runs together. Sundar’s attacking shots off Wood helped India stay in the chase. But Buttler brought Carse back into the attack. The move worked as Carse dismissed Sundar for 26, leaving India at 116/6. The pressure mounted. Tilak Varma responded with confidence. He took advantage of Archer’s pace, scoring 19 runs in the 16th over. This brought India closer to victory.

Bishnoi and Tilak Finish the Job

Bishnoi played a crucial role, hitting two boundaries to reduce the target to 13 runs from 13 balls. In the final over, Tilak sealed the win with a beautiful cover drive.

England’s Early Collapse

England’s innings got off to a rough start. Arshdeep Singh dismissed Phil Salt for 4, and Ben Duckett followed shortly, getting out for 3 to Washington Sundar.

Buttler Fights Back

Despite the early wickets, Jos Buttler fought back. He played a strong innings, scoring 45 off 30 balls. However, wickets kept falling. Harry Brook was dismissed for 13, leaving England at 60/3. Buttler’s dismissal left England at 77/4. Liam Livingstone failed to contribute, dismissed for 13 by Axar Patel. England were in trouble at 90/5.

Late Resistance from Carse

Jamie Smith added 22 runs, but his resistance ended when Abhishek Sharma dismissed him. England struggled further, reaching 104/6. Brydon Carse played a quick cameo, scoring 31 off 17 balls. His efforts gave England a late push, but he was run out. Adil Rashid (10) was the final wicket to fall. England finished their innings at 165/9 in 20 overs.

India’s Bowlers Shine

India’s bowlers delivered strong performances. Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy each took two wickets. Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, and Abhishek Sharma took one wicket each.