Five iconic moments from India vs England T20 international history

India, England, and Australia have emerged as the new powerhouses of world cricket, especially in the last decade or so with matches between these sides almost always going down to the wire. The India-England rivalry in particular has been one to savour, and clashes between these two behemoths of world cricket have produced plenty of iconic moments. 

With the ongoing T20 series between India and England, it would now be a good time to look back at some of the noteworthy moments from the past between these two sides in T20 cricket.

Here’s a list of five iconic moments in India vs England matches in T20 Internationals: 

1. Yuvraj Singh’s six sixes- 2007 T20 World Cup 

A moment that is never to be forgotten by all Indian fans and a certain Stuart Broad, Yuvraj Singh created history against England in the very first T20 World Cup. Playing in Durban on a breezy September evening, Yuvraj Singh was sparred on by a heated exchange of words with Andrew Flintoff.

The retaliation was felt by a young Stuart Broad in the next over, as he was smoked for six consecutive sixes - five on the leg side and one over point. Yuvraj also registered the fastest 50 in that match, getting to that feat off just 12 balls as India registered a handsome victory over the English. 

2. The Buttler-Hales storm- 2022 T20 World Cup 

In the 2022 T20 World Cup, expectations were high once India got to the semi-final after coming through a tough game against Pakistan, earlier, in the competition. Batting first, India managed 168 which seemed like a competitive total on that Adelaide wicket. That target though looked severely under par as Jos Buttler and Alex Hales went on a carnage in the chase.

Buttler scored 80 off 49 balls while Hales managed 86 off 47 balls. The English openers took apart India’s bowling of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ravi Ashwin, Arshdeep Singh, and Mohammed Shami as they chased down the target with 4 overs to spare, winning by 10 wickets. England dumped India out in that semi-final and eventually went on to win the whole tournament. 

3. Rohit’s revenge in Guyana - 2024 T20 World Cup 

Two years since that demoralizing 10-wicket defeat, India set up a clash once again against England in the 2024 semi-final. On a slow, low wicket, Rohit Sharma played out of his skin to score a fifty and get India to a competitive total of 171. In response, England’s chase never got going as they were stymied by spin. Axar Patel ended with figures of 3/23 while Kuldeep Yadav picked 3/19 as England were bowled out with more than three overs to spare. They were thoroughly beaten by 68 runs as Rohit and Co. claimed their revenge and then went on to end their trophy jinx by beating South Africa in the final. 

4. Bumrah’s day of reckoning- England tour of India, 2017 

India and England played a three-match T20I series in 2017 with the second game being played in Nagpur. Having won the first T20I, England would have all but sealed the series had it not been for Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliance. Batting first, India could only manage 144 runs, with KL Rahul top-scoring with 71 runs.

England were cruising in the chase, and they needed just eight runs off the final over with a well-set Joe Root and Jos Buttler in the middle. Up stepped Jasprit Bumrah, who was lethal with his yorkers and gave nothing away to the batters. He got the wickets of both the set England batters while conceding just 2 runs in that final over. India managed to get a thrilling victory and then clinch the series 2-1 a few days later. 

The Lord’s Heartbreak of 2009- 2009 T20 World Cup 

India went into the 2009 T20 World Cup as champions but were undone by a clinical English team in a thrilling game. Batting first, England managed 153 with Kevin Pietersen scoring a fifty. India were looking solid in the chase, but Graeme Swann got a double blow to reduce India to 87/5 after 14 overs. MS Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan tried hard in the final few overs, but they eventually fell short by 3 runs.