India vs England: What is the main reason for India's loss in the 3rd T20I?

England won the third T20I of the five-match series against India by 26 runs at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot, taking a crucial 2-1 lead in the series. The visitors first managed to recover from a dramatic middle-order collapse to post a competitive total of 171 runs. Despite the wobble in the middle overs, England's lower order held firm, helping them reach a respectable score. When it came to the second half of the game, the English bowling unit took charge. Their disciplined and consistent performance with the ball allowed them to successfully defend the target, and they never let India gain momentum during their chase.

India vs England: What went wrong for India in the IND vs ENG 3rd T20I?

Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen weighed in on India's tactical approach, particularly criticizing the decision to send Dhruv Jurel in at No. 8. Pietersen felt this was a questionable call by the Indian management, especially considering Jurel's potential to make an impact higher up the order. With India needing to accelerate the chase, sending a fresh batter at No. 8, instead of a more experienced one, seemed like a misstep in hindsight. Pietersen's comments reflect the growing concerns around India's batting choices and strategies in this high-stakes series, which could play a pivotal role in determining the outcome of the series.

"India didn't get the batting order right. Dhruv Jurel is an accomplished batter. Having him lower down the order for the left and right combination was not right. I'm a firm believer in your best batters batting up front," stated former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen during a recent interview.

"Left and right combination is alright till No. 4 but after that, you should send your best batters. Jurel is a proper batter. He could have constructed a big innings," said former Indian wicket-keeper batter Parthiv Patel.  

Dhruv Jurel was called up to the India squad as a replacement for the injured Rinku Singh after the series opener. However, the young batter has struggled to make an impact in the ongoing T20I series. In the second and third matches, Jurel failed to contribute significantly, managing just 4 runs in the second game and 2 runs in the third. His lack of runs has raised questions about his position in the batting order, particularly after his promotion to No. 8 in the latest match against England, a decision that has been criticized by former cricketers like Kevin Pietersen.

While Jurel is a promising talent, his underwhelming performances so far highlight the challenges of stepping into a high-pressure international series, especially in the middle-order. The decision to send him in at No. 8, rather than higher up the order, also adds to the debate about India's tactical choices in the series. Given the context of the match, where India needed to chase down a competitive total, the management's move to send Jurel lower in the batting order appeared to be a misjudgment. The 23-year-old will be hoping to turn things around and prove his worth in the remaining matches of the series.

England displayed a clinical performance in the third T20I against India on Tuesday, January 28, putting in an all-round effort to secure a crucial 26-run victory. Their batting was aggressive and efficient, as they started strong and finished even better. Ben Duckett and Liam Livingstone were the standout performers for England, scoring 51 and 43 runs, respectively. Their contributions were vital in guiding the visitors to a total of 171, recovering from a middle-order wobble to post a competitive target.

When it came to the run-chase, England never allowed India to gain momentum. Their bowlers kept the pressure on the Indian batters throughout the innings, with excellent displays from Jamie Overton and Adil Rashid. Overton's pace and Rashid's crafty spin were key in restricting India, ensuring that they could never fully chase down the target. England's disciplined bowling attack stifled the hosts' batting, maintaining tight lines and lengths that eventually led to India's downfall.

With this victory, England kept their hopes alive in the series, reducing India’s lead to 2-1. The win set the stage for an exciting continuation of the series, with the next two T20Is scheduled to take place in Pune and Mumbai, respectively. Both teams will now look to capitalize on their strengths and take control in the upcoming matches, with everything to play for in the final stretch of the series.