England's cricketers have secured their first win of 2025, ending an eight-match losing streak by men and women combined, after the former kept their T20 series in India alive with a 26-run victory in Rajkot.
Jos Buttler's side, playing their first white ball campaign under Brendon McCullum, seemed set to lose the series with two matches to spare after posting what looked a below-par 9-171.
Having been put in to bat for the third match in succession they found the spin of Varun Chakravarthy (5-24) hard to handle with only Ben Duckett (51 in 28 balls) and Liam Livingstone (43 off 24 with five sixes) impressing.
But a strong bowling performance, led by Adil Rashid (1-15 off four overs), suffocated India's much-vaunted batting line-up with only Hardik Pandya (40 off 35 balls) offering much resistance as they closed on 9-145.
Jamie Overton (3-24) and Brydon Carse (1-28) also shone with pacers Jordan Archer (2-33) and Mark Wood (1-29 off three) more expensive but taking key wickets.
"I think as a unit we bowled exceptionally well, " said Rashid.
"The guys bowled really well," said Buttler. "I have said many time [Rashid] is the most important player in our team, so many variations, so many different styles of bowling, we're fortunate to have him in our team."
"Credit goes to Adil Rashid. We wanted to rotate the striker and he didn't let us. He's a world-class bowler," said Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav.
"Conceding 170 from 127 for eight was too much. Batting also, we have a few things to learn."
India, who brought in Mohammed Shami (0-25) for his first match since the 50-over World Cup final defeat to Australia in November 2023, began well, again picking up Phil Salt (5) cheaply.
Duckett then hit out with an unusually subdued Buttler (24 off 22) in support as England reached 1-83 in the ninth over. But after both went in quick succession England collapsed to 9-147 before Rashid and Wood (both 10*), scrambled valuable late runs.
India lost wickets regularly, hampering their scoring after a sprightly start. From 2-48 after five overs they slid to 5-85 in the 13th with Rashid impossible to hit a boundary off.
With four overs remaining 64 were required and though Pandya slapped both Wood and Archer for six he was caught in the deep at the start of the 19th over and India's hopes went with him.
