England Stick to Unchanged Playing XI for Third T20I Against India in Rajkot

January 27, 2025

England has announced an unchanged playing XI for the third T20I against India, scheduled to take place in Rajkot, Gujarat. Continuing their tradition of revealing the lineup a day in advance, the Three Lions find themselves in a do-or-die situation after losing the first two matches of the series.

England’s Playing XI

For the third T20I, Ben Duckett and Philip Salt will open the batting, with captain Jos Buttler slated to bat at number three. The middle-order will feature Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Smith, and Jamie Overton. Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, and Mark Wood will handle the pace duties, while Adil Rashid remains the sole specialist spinner. Liam Livingstone is also expected to provide a few overs of his leg-spin, as he did in previous games.

Recap of the Series So Far

In the opening match at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, England struggled against India’s bowling attack. Arshdeep Singh dismissed openers Duckett and Salt early, while spinner Varun Chakravarthy troubled the visiting side with his mystery spin, restricting England to just 132 runs. India chased the target comfortably, with Abhishek Sharma’s explosive innings leading to a 7-wicket victory.

The second match, held in Chennai, saw England post 165/9, thanks to a late cameo of 31 runs from Brydon Carse. India faced a challenging situation after losing wickets at regular intervals but was rescued by Tilak Varma’s sensational unbeaten knock of 72. His composed effort helped India secure a narrow 2-wicket win and clinch the series.

Match Preview

With the series on the line, England will aim to bounce back and avoid a whitewash in the final game. Jos Buttler and his team will look to capitalize on their strengths and deliver an all-round performance to salvage pride in Rajkot.

England’s Playing XI for the Third T20I:

  • Ben Duckett
  • Philip Salt
  • Jos Buttler (c)
  • Harry Brook
  • Liam Livingstone
  • Jamie Smith
  • Jamie Overton
  • Brydon Carse
  • Jofra Archer
  • Adil Rashid
  • Mark Wood