India beat England by two wickets: Second cricket T20I – as it happened

England looked like they would level the series, but Tilak’s chanceless innings kept them at bay.

They will now shift their focus to Rajkot for the third T20I on January 28.

We hope you enjoyed our coverage of today’s enthralling match, and on behalf of Hafsa Adil, this is Rohan Sharma bidding you adieu.

2️⃣-0️⃣ 🙌

Tilak Varma finishes in style and #TeamIndia register a 2-wicket win in Chennai! 👌

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/6RwYIFWg7i #INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/d9jg3O02IB

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 25, 2025

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Tilak Verma, for his unbeaten 72 off 55 balls, was awarded Player of the Match: “The wicket was slightly two-paced. I was talking with [India head coach] Gautam [Gambhir] sir yesterday. He said whatever happens, you should play according to the situation.

If the team needs 10 an over, you should take charge, if something else, you should stand till the end. Team discussed that left-right combination will be a good option, it will be difficult for the opposition bowlers as well.

“We already played in South Africa, their bowlers were quicker. We were prepared. Archer and Wood are quick. Our guys prepared well, we worked hard in the nets and we got the result.”

Victorious India skipper Suryakumar Yadav spoke at the post-match presentation: “A little bit of relief. The way the game was going, we felt 160 was good.

“But the way they bowled, it was good that the game went down to the wire. We have been playing with an extra batter for the last few series. That batter gives us two-three overs as well.

“Good to see we are playing an aggressive brand of cricket. At the same time, guys put their hands up and stitched small partnerships.

“Very happy with the way Tilak [Verma] batted. Something to learn for everyone. Good to see someone take responsibility.

“Ravi Bishnoi has been putting the hard work in the nets. He wants to contribute with the bat as well. We know what we want to do. If we are all on the same page, good things will take place.”

Losing England captain Jos Buttler spoke at the post-match presentation: “Yeah, it was a great game. Really exciting at the end. All credit to Tilak for getting them over the line. Thought we created lots of chances and we pushed them really close.

“Really pleased the way we went about it with the bat. The aggression was there and we took the game on. Of course, you always want more [runs on the board].

“Lots of positives [to take from this]. [Jamie] Smith on debut and the way he played was fantastic. [Brydon] Carse and all the guys creating lots of chances with the ball. Always room for improvement, but happy with the style.”

Ravi Bishnoi spoke with the host broadcaster after the match: “My job was to give him [Tilak Verma] the strike and not play any unnecessary shots. I’ll post on Instagram with a caption, “Why should batsmen have all the fun?”

“[It was] One of the best T20 knocks from Tilak. He got two hundreds in South Africa [during the recent T20I series]. We knew something big was coming.

Tilak’s unbeaten 72 off 55 proves the difference as India pull off a late victory in Chennai.

He was the glue that held the Indian innings together, and vital contributions from Washington (26 off 19) and Bishnoi (9 off 5) at the end, ensured the hosts had a fighting chance.

Spare a thought for England, who recovered nicely in their innings to put up a stiff target, before putting in a disciplined bowling effort.

But the turning point would arguably be the Rashid dropped catch off Washington, which culminated in India knocking off 31 runs off the next two overs.

Carse was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3 for 29.

Tilak is the hero for India as he gets away a drive for four through extra-cover to secure a narrow two-wicket victory.

Bishnoi and Tilak embrace as the partisan crowd let their delight known.

Tilak sweeps round the corner, with the ball seemingly destined for the rope.

But Livingstone puts in a lovely diving effort to save two runs. 4 from 5 now.

Replays confirm that the ball was indeed going down leg, and India now need 6 off 6 to secure victory.

Despite Wood having an over in hand, Buttler opts for Overton to bowl the final over.

Tilak is able to find a double through midwicket, with Bishnoi putting in a desperate dive at the non-striker’s end.

Bishnoi then gets an even bigger cheer, this time for a boundary which he carves away over deep backward point.

Livingstone does bowl a straighter one for his final ball, with Bishnoi late on it. He goes up for the appeal but is overruled by the umpire. He then prompts Buttler to review it, which he does.

Initially, Overton was thrown the ball, but at the last second Buttler decides to bring on Livingstone.

The England captain is hoping to entice Tilak to go for the big hit with that move.

Bishnoi gets the loudest-cheered boundary you will ever hear! Carse bowls a fullish length on the pads.

Bishnoi is able to whip away a boundary down to deep midwicket, with the ball just having enough on it to beat the rider to the rope. The equation boils down to 13 off 12 as all results remain possible.

Tilak will look to shepherd the strike and do the bulk of the scoring.

He tries to get two runs at deep midwicket off the second ball, but is held to a single, with Bishnoi on strike.

With Tilak taking a single off the penultimate ball, it gives Arshdeep licence to go after the spinner.

But he instead perishes to the man at deep backward square. With two wickets remaining, and India still needing 20 off 18, it is going down to the wire.

He has an excellent start with four consecutive dots to Tilak.

Fortune favours the brave. Archer spears in a yorker, but ends up going leg side.

Arshdeep, looking to carve it towards the covers, ends up getting an inside-edge which flies through the vacant deep fine leg region for four.

19 come off the over as India now need less than a run-a-ball to secure a 2-0 series lead.

Just as he did to Archer earlier in the innings, the leftie gets another top-edge away over the keeper for six.

With that stroke, he gets his half-century off 39 balls. He then follows it up with a flat six over deep point which just makes it over the rope.

India need 40 off 30, with Tilak being the crucial wicket for the visitors.

Archer is re-introduced into the attack.

Axar gifts his wicket to the visitors as he looks for a big hit down deep midwicket but instead finds the fielder.

With Tilak having got four runs just before, it probably was ill-advised, and the gamble pays off for Buttler. England are into the tail now as Arshdeep strolls to the middle.