England produced a stunning performance to defeat India by 125 runs in the third T20 international in Rajkot, handing the hosts their heaviest defeat in the format. India were bowled out for just 76 runs in 12.1 overs while chasing 202, with Josh Tongue taking four wickets and Jofra Archer three.
India's innings collapses
India's chase started explosively, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma hitting three sixes in the first nine balls to reach 22 without loss. However, the innings unravelled spectacularly. Abhishek was caught at deep point off Tongue in the second over, and Sooryavanshi gloved an Archer bouncer behind in the third. Ishan Kishan and captain Shreyas Iyer fell in quick succession, and Axar Patel was caught behind soon after. India slumped to 63 for seven after five overs, eventually being dismissed for 76 – their lowest T20 total against England.
India captain Shreyas Iyer admitted: "It was atrocious. We played awful cricket." Head coach Gautam Gambhir defended the team's aggressive approach: "Sometimes when you play a high-risk, high-reward game these things can happen. That's what has made us successful and we'll try to continue to play the same way."
England's innings sets platform
Earlier, England posted 201 for seven after being put in to bat. Phil Salt top-scored with 70 off 44 balls, while Sam Curran added an unbeaten 41 off 24. England survived a difficult start, with Arshdeep Singh bowling a maiden first over, but built partnerships to reach a competitive total. Harry Brook, captaining England, praised Salt's innings as "mega".
Brook said: "With 200 on the board, on that wicket – I don't want to say we were confident but it would have taken a really special innings to lose the game."
Record defeat for India
The 125-run margin is India's largest in T20Is, surpassing their previous record defeat of 80 runs. England now lead the five-match series 2-0 with two games remaining. Josh Tongue finished with four wickets, Jofra Archer took three, and Jamie Overton and Will Jacks claimed one each.
