India clinches 2nd T20I thriller against England, leads 2–0

India took a commanding 2–0 lead in their five-match T20 International series against England with a thrilling two-wicket victory in Chennai on Saturday.

Tilak Varma, who was chasing 165 for victory, emerged as the hero for India, scoring an unbeaten 72 off 55 balls to lead his team home with just four balls remaining.

England’s innings were led by captain Jos Buttler, who top-scored with 45 runs off 30 balls.

While Jamie Smith (22 off 12) and Brydon Carse (31 off 17) provided some support, the visitors were unable to build significant partnerships, finishing on 165/6 after 20 overs.

India’s chase faced an early setback as they lost Sanju Samson (5 off 7) and Abhishek Sharma (12 off 6).

Varma then took charge, building crucial partnerships that kept India in the game.

He added 48 runs with Washington Sundar (26 off 19) for the sixth wicket, followed by a 33-run stand with Axar Patel (17 off 12), steering India to within touching distance of the target.

Varma’s composure under pressure was instrumental as he hit the winning boundary in the final over, showcasing his ability to anchor the innings in challenging conditions.

His performance was particularly vital given the lack of substantial contributions from other Indian batters, with Hardik Pandya (7 off 6) and Suryakumar Yadav (12 off 7) falling cheaply.

England’s bowlers put up a spirited effort, with their spinners extracting significant turns from the Chennai pitch. Despite their best efforts, they were unable to stop India from winning.

The victory has significantly boosted India’s chances of clinching the series, with betting odds now heavily favouring the hosts ahead of the third T20I in Rajkot on Tuesday.

The top betting sites are offering -250 for an Indian victory, while Bovada lists England at long odds of +1800 to pull off a dramatic series turnaround.

England captain Jos Buttler remained optimistic despite the loss, noting the team’s aggression and fight throughout the game.

However, England must address their batting inconsistencies to stay competitive with the series on the line in the next match.

India, meanwhile, will look to continue their momentum and seal the series in Rajkot, with Tilak Varma’s form providing a significant boost to their confidence.

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