Rajkot: Following his impressive five-wicket haul against England in the third T20I of the five-match series, India leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy shared his thoughts on the team's defeat despite his standout performance at the Niranjan Shah Stadium on Tuesday.
England triumphed over India by 26 runs in the third T20I, keeping the series competitive with a scoreline of 2-1. They set a target of 172 runs, which India was unable to chase down, even with a strong start from Abhishek Sharma.
"I can't express dissatisfaction because that's how the game unfolds. There have been instances where, even without taking five wickets, we still end up on the losing side. I can only focus on my contributions and what I can deliver for the team. That's all that lies within my control," he stated.
The match was significantly influenced by both teams' ability to score runs on a slow pitch and the bowlers' effectiveness in restricting the scoring rate. Varun excelled in maintaining pressure on the batters, showcasing his skill.
He made an immediate impact after being brought in by Suryakumar during the final over of the powerplay, conceding just three runs in his first over against Ben Duckett and Jos Buttler.
In his subsequent four overs, Varun dismantled the English batting lineup, achieving his second five-wicket haul in T20Is for India. Although his exceptional bowling did not secure a win for the Men in Blue, it earned him the Player of the Match award. He claimed the wickets of Jos Buttler, Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, and Jofra Archer.
Reflecting on the third T20I of the series, Men in Blue captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and opted to bowl first in the match.
Opener Ben Duckett played a crucial role by scoring a vital half-century before being dismissed by Abhishek Sharma off Hardik Pandya's bowling. His partnership with Buttler helped establish a solid position for England at 83/2.
However, the middle order struggled against Varun Chakravarthy, who delivered an impressive performance, claiming 5 wickets for just 24 runs. This collapse left England reeling at 127/8, necessitating a determined effort from Liam Livingstone, who scored 43 runs off 24 balls. He received valuable support from Adil Rashid and Mark Wood, each contributing 10 runs.
England concluded their innings at 171/9, a total that appeared to be slightly below par. Nevertheless, their bowlers started strongly, consistently taking wickets and preventing any of India's top four from exceeding 24 runs.
Pandya showcased his batting skills with a score of 40 off 35 balls, forming a 38-run partnership with Axar Patel. However, after Buttler caught Pandya off Jamie Overton's delivery in the 19th over, the remaining batsmen faced an uphill battle, ultimately finishing 26 runs short.
India now leads the five-match series 2-1 as they prepare for the fourth T20I in Pune on Friday, January 31.
