India Secures Thrilling Win Against England in 2nd T20I on Republic Day Eve
India clinched a nail-biting two-wicket victory over England in the second T20I at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. The match, which concluded just before Republic Day celebrations, saw Tilak Varma emerge as the hero with a match-winning half-century, ensuring India chased down a 166-run target in 19.2 overs.
England, batting first after losing the toss, faced early setbacks. Phil Salt was dismissed in the first over by Arshdeep Singh, with Washington Sundar taking the catch. Sundar later joined the bowling attack and dismissed Ben Duckett cheaply, with Dhruv Jurel catching him behind. England struggled in the powerplay, losing key batters as Varun Chakravarthy’s spin sent Harry Brook back for 13.
England skipper Jos Buttler provided a crucial contribution, scoring 45 off 30 balls, but his attempt to accelerate was cut short by Axar Patel, who claimed him with a well-placed catch by Tilak Varma at cow corner. Axar struck again, dismissing Liam Livingstone with a catch by Harshit Rana. Jamie Smith tried to counterattack with boundaries, but his innings ended as he lofted one to Ravi Bishnoi off Abhishek Sharma.
The lower order added some quick runs, with Brydon Carse making 31 off 17 before a mix-up led to his run-out. Hardik Pandya claimed Adil Rashid’s wicket, caught behind by Sanju Samson. England ended their innings at 165, with Jofra Archer and Mark Wood remaining unbeaten.
India’s chase started with fireworks as Abhishek Sharma and Samson found early boundaries. However, Abhishek was dismissed by Wood for 12 off 6, and Samson fell shortly after to Archer. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav then stepped in, thrilling the crowd with some exquisite boundaries, but Carse ended his stay, cleaning him up before he could settle.
Tilak Varma took charge, displaying remarkable composure under pressure. Targeting Archer and the area behind the stumps, Tilak brought India to the brink of victory. Despite losing partners at regular intervals—Jurel, Pandya, Sundar, and Axar falling to disciplined English bowling—Tilak held his nerve. Sundar contributed a quick 26 off 19, including a free-hit six and consecutive boundaries, before Carse claimed his third wicket.
The lower order chipped in to support Tilak. Bishnoi, in particular, provided stability after Arshdeep’s dismissal. As the equation narrowed, Tilak ensured the chase was completed with confidence, sparking celebrations in the stands. His calm approach in the final overs sealed India’s win and set an upbeat tone for Republic Day.
This match underscored India’s ability to handle pressure in tight chases, with the team showing both resilience and flair. England, despite an all-around effort, struggled to capitalize on key moments, allowing India to emerge victorious in a thrilling contest.