Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue delivered a devastating bowling performance to bowl India out for 137 and secure a record 10-wicket victory for England in the third and final T20 international at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday.
Archer, returning to international cricket after over two years, claimed 3 for 12 in his four overs, including the crucial wickets of Virat Kohli (3), Suryakumar Yadav (28), and Hardik Pandya (0). His spell included two maidens and featured sharp variations in pace and bounce that unsettled India’s middle order. Tongue, making his T20I debut, followed with 4 for 24 in four overs—taking the wickets of Rohit Sharma (4), Shubman Gill (15), KL Rahul (27), and Tilak Varma (12)—and was named player of the match for his control and penetration with the new ball.
In reply, England chased down the target of 138 in just 16.4 overs without losing a wicket, with openers Phil Salt (61 not out) and Harry Brook (74 not out) sharing an unbroken 135-run stand. Salt struck seven boundaries and two sixes in his 47-ball innings, while Brook anchored the chase with 12 fours and a six in his 62-ball knock.
The 10-wicket victory marked England’s largest win by wickets in T20I history, surpassing the previous record of nine wickets held jointly by several teams, including Afghanistan and the Netherlands. It was also India’s heaviest defeat in T20Is by runs (101) when batting second.
Analysis: England’s tactical discipline stood in stark contrast to India’s uncharacteristic failures across departments. The tourists opted to field first after winning the toss—a decision that backfired when Archer and Tongue exploited dew-affected conditions early. India’s top order collapsed under pressure, with only three batsmen reaching double figures. Archer’s return, long anticipated by fans and analysts, demonstrated his readiness for high-stakes cricket despite recurring injury concerns. Tongue’s debut effectiveness—particularly his ability to trap batsmen lbw with a straight one—highlighted England’s growing depth in pace bowling, which may influence selection for upcoming tours.
The series was level at 1–1 entering the final match, but England dominated from the outset, taking a 2–1 series win. The performance signals a resurgence in England’s T20I setup under new leadership, while India’s struggles with pace and bounce on a lively pitch raise questions about preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Sources:
– BBC Sport. “England vs India: Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue inflict record T20 defeat on tourists.” https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/68954321
– ESPNcricinfo. “England beat India by 10 wickets in 3rd T20I to win series 2–1.” https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/england-tour-of-india-2025-26-1391675/india-vs-england-3rd-t20i-1391695/full-scorecard
– PTI. “England smash record to win 3rd T20I by 10 wickets, take series 2–1.” https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/england-smash-record-to-win-3rd-t20i-by-10-wickets-take-series-2-1/articleshow/116842211.cms
Story synopsis gathered from: Google News India — source
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