Hosts India have taken a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series against England after the Chennai T20I produced a thrilling finish, where Tilak Varma’s one-man show snatched a memorable win.

After the Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav chose to field first in the second T20I of the series at Chennai, England scored 165/9 in 20 overs. India chased down the target in 19.2 overs after losing eight wickets. 

Indian bowlers shined again; England batters disappointed

Once again the English openers fell cheaply. While Phil Salt lost his wicket in the first over to Arshdeep Singh after scoring four runs, his opening partner Ben Duckett (3) was dismissed by Washington Sundar on his first ball of the match.

Captain Jos Buttler once again produced a powerful start as England scored 58/2 at the end of the powerplay. Harry Brook (13) and Liam Livingstone (13) again failed while the T20I debutant Jamie Smith impressed in his short period of batting.

Buttler was dismissed in the 10th over, while Axar Patel took his wicket, who scored 45 off 30 balls with two fours and three sixes. 

Debutant Smith hit one four and two sixes and scored 22 off 12 balls before Abhishek Sharma got his wicket.

While England were struggling at 104/6, Brydon Carse batted incredibly to set a challenging total for the visitors. The second-highest scorer in the innings, Carse scored 31 off 17 balls with the help of one four and three sixes before a huge mix-up ran him out. Jofra Archer (12*), Adil Rashid (10), and Mark Wood (5*) had some useful contributions in the lower order. 

India used seven bowlers, where only Ravi Bishnoi didn’t pick a wicket but was very economical (4-0-27-0). Meanwhile, Axar Patel (2/32) and Varun Chakravarthy (2/38) took two wickets each. 

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Tilak Varma almost single-handedly chased the target

In chasing, incredible Tilak Varma almost single-handedly guided the hosts to a thrilling victory. While India were losing wickets at regular intervals, Varma held the crease strongly and was eyeing finishing the game. 

As the hosts were losing the wickets regularly, they were battling at 78/5 when Hardik Pandya was caught behind the wicket. After that wicket, Varma had a crucial 38-run partnership for the sixth wicket.

Washington Sundar had some luck as he got a life after Adil Rashid dropped him at mid-on, and the left-handed batter soon used a free hit properly to bag a sixer. Before Brydon Carse bowled Sundar, he scored a valuable 26 off 19 balls with three fours and one six. 

The pressure was always on Varma, who completed his half-century in 39 balls, but he was batting calmly despite the falling of the wickets at the other end. 

When the ninth batter Ravi Bishnoi joined, India were 20 runs away from the win, and Arshdeep lost his wicket after a 20-run partnership with Varma. Bishnoi hit two useful boundaries, which brought down the pressure from Varma, and the 22-year-old left-handed batter Varma ended the game marvelously with a boundary. The Player of the Match Varma scored 72 not out off 55 balls, which will remain memorable for years. 

While all six English bowlers picked up at least one wicket, Brydon Carse was exceptional as he had the bowling figures of 4-0-29-3. On the other hand, Jofra Archer managed his worst T20I bowling figures with 4-0-60-1. 

England Blame Indian Smog for Spin Troubles

Harry Brook(Vice captian), said his team had trouble because of how smoky the air was when they played cricket against India in Kolkata. They were trying to strike the ball , but they only got 132 runs and they lost all wickets. Brook got out because he couldn't see the ball moves that India's spin bowlers, such as Varun Chakravarthy, were doing.

These Spin tricks were very important because they made England's players sent back to the pavilion. After the game, he said, I didn't play against Bishnoi, but it's literally hard or difficult to know what Chakravarthy is going to do with the ball. The spinning of the ball were  excellent and made it tough for England.

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Harry Brook said, "it was harder to pick the ball due to the smog in Kolkata. Hopefully, the air is a bit clearer in Chennai and we can see the ball a bit easier". (Telegraph). pic.twitter.com/7IozT0UcAJ

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 24, 2025

It was as though the smoky air was there, but directed inward, yet externally applied which means it felt like it got all inside England's heads, but it was actually the air all around them, making things hard. Since they lost, England's coaches said, we need to change our plan of action, and are making the team a bit different ahead of the next game in Chennai, where they try to move the ball using sticks in Chennai.

They're bringing in Brydon Carse to help them understand the other team out. England's team is trying very hard to win the next match . Now, they have to get used to the manner the ball spins a lot in India and we know  that chennai is famous about spin pitches. And finally Englang is Preparing hard to win the match in Chennai.

While the hosts India and the visitors England are set for the second T20I at Chennai, which will be played on Saturday (January 25) evening, England are set to make one key change in the playing XI. 

India won the five-match home T20I series opener against England last Wednesday (January 22) night as the hosts thrashed the English team by seven wickets. After the English batters failed, excluding only the skipper Jos Buttler (68), the hosts chased down the 133-run target comfortably in 12.5 overs after losing only three wickets, where the opener scored a firing 79 off 34 balls.

While India are leading this T20I series by 1-0, the visitors England have taken a decision on the playing XI for the Chennai T20I, where they are ready to make one change in the playing XI. 

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Gus Atkinson disappointed in Kolkata T20I

Pacer Gus Atkinson returned to white-ball cricket after more than a year during the last T20I at Kolkata. However, in that game, he had the bowling figures of 2-0-38-0. Indian opener Sanju Samson welcomed him in the white-ball format with 22 runs in the second over of the chase. In that over, Samson recorded 4, 4, 0, 6, 4, and 4 runs. He returned in the 11th over, where he conceded 16 runs, including two fours and one six.

Brydon Carse set to replace Atkinson 

While the right-arm fast bowler Atkinson failed to impress, the right-arm fast bowler Brydon Carse, who is also popular as a bowling all-rounder, is set to replace Atkinson in the Chennai T20I. The 29-year-old Carse has taken six wickets in four T20Is.

The 24-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith has been named as the 12th member of the squad for the Chennai T20I. While he has played nine Tests and seven ODIs, he is yet to make his T20I debut. 

England's playing XI for the Chennai T20I

Ben Duckett, Phil Salt (wk), Jos Buttler (Captain), Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood. 12th man: Jamie Smith

England has made some changes for the second T20 match against India at Chepauk on January 25, as part of the 5-match series. In the first match in Kolkata, two changes were made to the England team. For this match, Jamie Smith has been included as the 12th man. Jacob Bethel's availability is uncertain due to illness, as he missed Thursday's training session. If he doesn't recover by match day, Jamie Smith could replace him.

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The confirmed change is that Gus Atkinson will replace Brydon Carse for this match. Gus's performance in the first T20 of this series didn't go well, as he gave away 38 runs in just 2 overs. In one over against Sanju Samson, he became expensive. Overall, he only bowled 2 overs and was replaced by Brydon Carse. Now, 29-year-old right-arm fast bowler Brydon Carse is ready to replace him for this match.

Brydon Carse comes in place of Gus Atkinson in England's XI for the 2nd T20I against India at Chepauk 🏏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿#BrydonCarse #GusAtkinson #INDvENG #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/Fy3QZLgXyV

— InsideSport (@InsideSportIND) January 24, 2025

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Brydon Carse has played 4 T20 matches, taking 6 wickets with a good economy rate of 7.66 and an impressive average of 15.33. He is ready to step in for this match.

From the English side, Jofra Archer was the most impressive in the first T20 match of the series in Kolkata. He bowled 4 overs, giving only 21 runs and taking two important wickets—first Sanju Samson and then Suryakumar Yadav.

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India vs. England 2nd T20I Probable Playing XI:

India's probable playing XI - Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, and Varun Chakravarthy.

England's probable playing XI - Ben Duckett, Philip Salt (wk), Jos Buttler (c), Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jamey Smith, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, and Mark Wood.

England pacer Brydon Carse has been handed a three-month ban from all forms of cricket for breaching regulations that prohibit players from gambling. This development is significant as it impacts Carse’s budding career and his prospects of making a Test debut for England this summer.

Overview of the Ban

Brydon Carse’s ban will be in effect from May 28 to August 28. The decision, supported by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), came after Carse was found guilty of placing bets on cricket matches, violating anti-corruption rules.

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Carse’s infractions date back more than five years. Between 2017 and 2019, Carse placed a total of 303 bets on various cricket matches. It’s important to note that he did not participate in any of the matches he bet on. These actions, though historical, are in clear violation of cricket’s strict anti-corruption policies.

Impact on Carse’s Career

The ban curtails Carse’s immediate prospects of making his Test debut for England, especially during the upcoming series against the West Indies. Carse was a strong contender for the squad, and this suspension is a significant setback for his aspirations and momentum in international cricket.

ECB’s Statement on the Ban

The ECB expressed their full support for the Cricket Regulator’s decision. They emphasized the seriousness of anti-corruption breaches in cricket and highlighted Carse’s cooperation and remorse.

“We take these matters extremely seriously and do not condone any form of anti-corruption breach in cricket,” the ECB stated. “We support the Cricket Regulator’s decision and their consideration of the mitigating factors in Brydon’s case. He has co-operated and shown remorse for his actions. We are satisfied that Brydon has shown growth in the five years since this breach and has demonstrated a greater understanding of his responsibilities.”

Carse’s Response to the Ban

Carse has accepted full responsibility for his actions and expressed gratitude towards the ECB, Durham Cricket, and the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) for their support.

“While these bets were several years ago, that is no excuse, and I take full responsibility for my actions,” Carse said in a statement. “I would like to thank the ECB, Durham Cricket, and the PCA for their support during this difficult time for me. I will be working hard in the next 12 weeks to ensure that I repay that support on the field when I am able to return to playing.”