Indian batters faltered against an incisive England bowling attack as the visitors raised their game in a must-win scenario to win the third T20I by 26 runs and keep the five-match series alive here on Tuesday. Mohammed Shami made a solid comeback to international cricket after 14 months but it was Varun Chakravarthy's bowling effort that stood out as his five-wicket haul helped India limit England to 171/9. India should have chased down the target but the batters could only manage 145/9 in 20 overs. India still lead the series 2-1 with the fourth game scheduled in Pune on January 31.

England have done it! A very impressive bowling performance and India did not look in control for the majority of the run chase. England emerge victorious by 26 runs and they have now made the series 1-2.

Mohammed Shami slammed a six but got out on the very next delivery while Dhruv Jurel also ended up throwing away his wicket as India have now lost nine wickets. It is all over in Rajkot as the hosts are inches away from defeat.

Is that the game for India? Hardik Pandya goes for yet another big shot down the ground but this time, the power was not there and the ball went straight in the hands of Jos Buttler. Jamie Overton strikes for England and it is almost game over for India.

India 140/7 (18.4)

More misery for India! Axar Patel tried to go for a big shot but ended up miscued it completely. A straightforward catch for Adil Rashid and Jofra Archer strikes for England.

India 124/6 (17.3)

50 required off the final 3 overs - This is too tough for India. A good over nevertheless as India scored 14 runs but it looks like that effort will be too little too late. Hardik Pandya looks frustrated as he failed to make contact with a short pitched delivery.

India 123/5 (17.1)

A good spell of bowling from England but India are not giving up. A boundary for Axar Patel followed by a straight six for Hardik Pandya. The equation is in England's favour but still, game on!

India 117/5 (16.3)

Hardik Pandya slams a boundary and India really needed that. The boundaries have been quite rare in this innings and England will need at least one more wicket to feel comfortable. With Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya at the crease, this game is still hanging in the balance.

India 100/5 (15)

England are going to use their final review! Rashid's delivery skids back and hits Axar on the pads. Umpire gives not out, but this will be tight.

Oh, and it's missing the wickets! Axar survives.

IND 90/5 (14)

Hardik Pandya hasn't been able to fire today. 19-ball 12 so far, and well below the standard we know he is capable of. Axar Patel isn't getting a move-on either, 2 off 5 as it stands.

IND 87/5 (13.2)

Hardik Pandya has been caught on the pads but a full delivery from Jamie Overton. Seems to be missing leg, as the umpire gives not out. England take the review, and it is indeed missing leg stump.

IND 86/5 (13)

Axar Patel has been sent in ahead of Dhruv Jurel. India seem adamant to maintain the left-right combo in the middle. India's run-rate is below 7 now. Required run-rate is nearing 12. This is the time to hit.

IND 85/5 (12.3)

Washington Sundar is gone! End of a painful stay in the middle. 6 runs off just 15 balls. Tries to get a move on, goes big but finds the fielder at mid-off. India's bold call to send him ahead of Jurel and Axar has backfired big time!

OUT - Washington Sundar - c Buttler b Overton - 6 (15)

IND 85/5 (12.1)

England appeal a stumping with Washington Sundar on strike, but he is comfortably in. 

IND 85/4 (12)

England definitely have more of the momentum here. They have tightened the screws on India, as Overton concedes just 4 runs. One of these two batters need to start hitting it before the targets goes out of reach.

IND 82/4 (11)

Hardik Pandya is 11 off 16 balls, Washington Sundar is 3 off 7. England have hit the brakes on India's run-rate here. 

IND 81/4 (10.4)

9.4 runs an over with only 6 wickets left is a tricky situation for Team India. Jamie Overton has been handed the ball for the 11th over, and greets Hardik Pandya with a bouncer.

IND 78/4 (10.1)

Big appeal by Adil Rashid, as the ball ricochets off Sundar and goes behind for 4. Umpire gives it not out, and Jos Buttler doesn't go for a review in the end. Leg byes given, and certainly a question for LBW in that case.

Opportunity missed?

IND 78/4 (10)

Washington Sundar has been sent out to bat ahead of Dhruv Jurel or Axar Patel. Interesting call by Team India, as they aim to solidify things in the middle and stitch a partnership.

IND 72/4 (9)

Adil Rashid gets Tilak Varma! Massive, massive wicket for England. Tilak Varma's record streak ends and now they're really in hot water.

OUT - Tilak Varma - b Rashid - 18 (14)

IND 68/4 (8)

Five singles and a six. India take 11 off Livingstone's first. Tilak Varma looking good, while Pandya is settling in.

IND 62/3 (7)

Tilak Varma steps down the track and clears it over long-off. Targetting the part-time bowler. If anyone can bail India out here, surely it is Tilak Varma.

IND 60/3 (6.4)

First spin option introduced by Jos Buttler, but it isn't Adil Rashid, but Liam Livingstone instead. 

IND 52/3 (6.1)

Hardik Pandya comes in at No. 5. The Mumbai Indians captain replaces the India T20I captain. Takes a single first ball, and then a wide from Mark Wood brings up 50 for India.

IND 51/3 (6)

Suryakumar Yadav is gone! Big trouble for India, 3-down inside the powerplay. The captain goes. He plays it straight up, and Salt takes a comfortable catch.

OUT - Suryakumar Yadav - c Salt b Wood - 14 (7)

IND 48/3 (5.1)

Suryakumar Yadav is taking Jofra Archer to the cleaners! Pitched short, but a slower ball, and Surya lofts it over the in-field and slams it towards point for 4! 6, 2, 4!

IND 48/2 (4.4)

Suryakumar Yadav to the party now. Trademark SKY! Pitched on the leg stump, Surya flicks it over fine leg for a maximum. So what if 2 wickets are down, this rock-and-roll India side are going to keep playing their aggressive brand of cricket.

IND 41/2 (4.1)

Tilak off the mark! Wonderful shot, through the covers. That sounded so sweet off the bat. 12 off the over, but a big wicket.

IND 35/2 (4)

Tilak Varma has scored more than 300 runs without getting out in T20I cricket. Two centuries and a match-winning 72 in the last match in that streak. How far can he go? India need the two Mumbai Indians stars to perform well here.

IND 31/2 (3.4)

Abhishek Sharma departs! Jofra Archer takes a stunner! Tries to go big, comes down the track but times it poorly. Archer in the deep, dives backward and completes a superb catch. India in a spot of bother.

OUT - Abhishek Sharma - c Archer b Carse - 24 (14)

IND 31/2 (3.4)

Abhishek Sharma is dealing in boundaries here. Times Brydon Carse for two fours in a row! Exquisite timing by the southpaw.

IND 31/1 (3.3)

A right-hander has departed first, which is why Suryakumar Yadav has walked in at No. 3 ahead of Tilak Varma. India's captain is lacking in form a little bit with the bat, can he score big today?

Sanju Samson had been practising with a plastic ball to deal with bouncers, but that has gone in vain today. Archer had him with a short ball once again.

Know more about Samson's special training HERE.

Abhishek Sharma hits it so sweet! Belted over extra cover for 4! Archer steams in at 145 kmh and Abhishek gives the perfect response.

IND 23/1 (2.5)

Sanju Samson departs! Once again, Jofra Archer has his number! Samson goes cheaply, and India lose their first wicket in the third over.

OUT - Sanju Samson - c Rashid b Archer - 3 (6)

IND 16/1 (2.2)

12 runs off Mark Wood's first over. Two boundaries by Abhishek Sharma in there. 

IND 15/0 (2)

Abhishek Sharma goes for the full, doesn't time it well, but still clears the in-field and gets 4 more! The Indian openers are up and running.

IND 13/0 (1.3)

Abhishek Sharma given room outside the off stump, and he clears the 30-yard circle. Four runs! 

IND 9/0 (1.2)

Tidy first over by Jofra Archer. Just 3 runs come off it. 

IND 3/0 (1)

Samson begins with a single, playing a lofted shot towards fine leg. Abhishek Sharma tries to come down the track and swings hard, but misses.

IND 1/0 (0.3)

Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson are out at the crease. India have a target of 172. This will be fun!

What a magical spell by Varun Chakravarthy again. Ran through England's batting order, dismissing Jos Buttler, Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse and Jofra Archer, to pick up his second T20I 5-wicket haul.

10 wickets in the series in just 3 games. Wow.

India have a challenging 172 to chase down, but with dew coming down in Rajkot, the explosive batting lineup will fancy their chances. Over to Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma and co.!

England scramble 2 runs off the final ball. The throw hits Mark Wood, but they complete 2. Very good 24 runs added by the final wicket, that could end up being crucial if this game ends up as tight as the last.

ENG 171/9 (20)

Pandya bowls way outside off, beyond the pitch marking. Even though Rashid moves, it's a wide. England sneak a single too!

ENG 169/9 (19.5)

England have picked up some valuable runs with their final wicket. 19 runs added between Rashid and Wood, and still 2 more runs to go.

ENG 166/9 (19.4)

Shami goes wicketless on his return to India colours. 0/25 in 3 overs. 

ENG 162/9 (19)

Oh dear! Mohammed Shami gets his length horribly wrong, and bowls a waist-high no ball! It's a beamer, right at Mark Wood's neck, and he is given a warning for that by the umpire.

ENG 158/9 (18.2)

Mohammed Shami back into the attack, Adil Rashid gets a thick edge and it trickles away for 4. Can Shami take a wicket on his India return?

ENG 155/9 (18.1)

That's the wicket India needed! Tries to go big again, but doesn't connect well enough. Liam Livingstone has to walk back. Hardik Pandya delivers a wicket with his first ball back.

OUT - Liam Livingstone - c Jurel b Pandya - 43 (24)

ENG 147/9 (17.1)

One more SIX! Liam Livingstone is carrying England on his back here. He is up to 43 now. Three sixes in four balls against Bishnoi.

ENG 147/8 (17)

Two sixes in a row! Liam Livingstone goes back-to-back over deep mid-wicket off Ravi Bishnoi. It's all on his shoulders now. The man who will play for RCB in IPL 2025, is playing very well here. 

ENG 139/8 (16.2)

5-wicket haul for Varun Chakravarthy! Jofra Archer's stumps have been dismantled. England in tatters. What a spell. 5/24!

OUT - Jofra Archer - b Varun - 0 (2)

ENG 127/8 (16)

4th wicket for Varun! Brydon Carse is gone! Tries to clear the ropes, holds out to deep square leg. Good catch by Tilak Varma in the deep. 

OUT - Brydon Carse - c Tilak b Varun - 3 (4)

ENG 127/7 (15.4)

Liam Livingstone hits it big for six. The onus is on him now to rescue the England batting. Clears the ropes, just about, off Ravi Bishnoi's bowling. 

How much can England manage in the final 5 overs?

ENG 123/6 (15)

Castled! Clean bowled! Jamie Overton goes first ball. Tries to sweep, gets his leg stump knocked over. Varun Chakravarthy is on a hattrick!

OUT - Jamie Overton - b Varun - 0 (1)

ENG 115/6 (13.4)

Jamie Smith is gone! First he hits a big 6, but tries to go big very next ball and finds the fielder at deep mid-wicket. Dhruv Jurel takes the catch, Varun Chakravarthy gets his second wicket of the game!

OUT - Jamie Smith - c Jurel b Varun - 6 (4)

ENG 115/5 (13.3)

Harry Brook's remark, about the smog in Kolkata being the reason he couldn't see the ball, has backfired again. Once again dismissed by spin.

Harry Brook departs! Clean bowled by Ravi Bishnoi! Once again, completely outfoxed by spin. Tries a sweep, the ball sticks low, takes an inside edge and hits the stumps.

OUT - Harry Brook - b Bishnoi - 8 (10)

ENG 108/4 (12.4)

Liam Livingstone is batting well here. Using his feet, coming down the track. Times one brilliantly through mid-wicket, and picks a boundary off Bishnoi.

ENG 107/3 (12.3)

10 comes off the 12th over, bowled by Axar. Livingstone and Brook just settling in here. Now the ball has been handed to Ravi Bishnoi, who will bowl is second over.

ENG 101/3 (12)

Liam Livingstone attacks Axar Patel, clears the ropes with ease. Comes down the track, and it's a big 6! 85m long.

ENG 97/3 (11.2)

This is Harry Brook's turn to come good. He has been joined by Liam Livingstone in the middle, as England try to recover again from the two quick wickets.

Meanwhile, Abhishek Sharma is handed the 11th over, and concedes just 4 runs!

ENG 91/3 (11)

Ben Duckett departs. Tries to go big, but finds Abhishek Sharma at deep mid-wicket. Safe as houses. England have lost their two set batters in the space of 7 balls. Axar Patel strikes!

OUT - Ben Duckett - c Abhishek b Axar - 51 (28)

ENG 87/3 (10)

Superb knock by Ben Duckett. Gets to his half-century in just 26 balls. 7 fours and 2 sixes in that knock.

ENG 87/2 (9.1)

OUT! Buttler has edged it! Superb catch by Samson, he was convinced and he urged for that DRS, and it has paid off for India. DRS shows the faintest of edges, but it will give India the much-needed breakthrough. 6th wicket for Varun Chakravarthy in this series.

OUT - Jos Buttler - c Samson b Varun - 24 (22)

ENG 83/2 (9)

Buttler misses the reverse sweep, Samson goes up very enthusiastically after completing a sharp catch. Umpire gives it not out, but Samson is convinced! India take another review.

Did Buttler edge it?

ENG 83/1 (8.5)

Chakravarthy back into the attack, Duckett comes down the track and hits him for 4! Picks two more runs off the next ball, and he is nearing a 50 now.

ENG 82/1 (8.3)

Solid over by Axar, but a boundary nonetheless. 4 byes, goes past everyone. 

ENG 74/1 (8)

Four consecutive overs bowled by four different spinners. First Sundar, then Varun, then Bishnoi and now Axar will bowl the 8th over. Interesting tactic by Suryakumar Yadav.

Jos Buttler comes to the party. Ravi Bishnoi into the attack, and Buttler treats himself to a 4 and then a mighty 6! Another good over for the visitors, 13 runs off it.

ENG 65/1 (7)

Varun Chakravarthy makes a brilliant start. Halts the run-flow. Just 3 off the over. England manage 52 in the powerplay, largely thanks to Ben Duckett.

ENG 52/1 (6)

16 balls, 39 runs. This has been some start by Ben Duckett. Much-needed for England. Ramp shots, reverse sweeps, square cuts, pull shots, Duckett has used every weapon so far.

India's decision to introduce spin in the powerplay backfired with Sundar going for 15 in the over, but now the ball has been handed to Varun Chakravarthy. He has been India's magician-in-chief so far. 50 up for England.

ENG 50/1 (5.1)

Duckett tries to reverse sweep again, but it hits him on the pads. India go up for a review! But it's not out. Easily missing the stumps.

ENG 49/1 (5)

Two more 4s for Duckett! That's 5 in a row now! First one, cut away through extra cover, the next one reverse swept for 4!

Then a dot, and then Duckett steps out and slams it for SIX! Incredible batting.

ENG 49/1 (4.5)

Make that 3! Third consecutive boundary for Ben Duckett, England pick up 13 off Pandya's over.

And India turn to spin. Here comes Washington Sundar.

ENG 35/1 (4.1)

Ben Duckett is looking in the mood today. Pandya pitches it short and the left-hander pulls it away for another boundary. Next ball, steps out, slams it through the covers! Two 4s in a row!

ENG 30/1 (3.5)

England need a good partnership between Duckett and Buttler here to see out the powerplay, at least. Time and again, England have been let down repeatedly by their batting so far in the series.

ENG 22/1 (3.3)

Ben Duckett goes big on the final ball of the over! Had been tidy up until then, but England pick up 9 runs from the over in the end. Ramp shot, over fine leg for 6! 

ENG 21/1 (3)

Great movement by Shami, swinging away from Buttler. Narrowly goes past the bat, not sure if that had an edge there. Samson doesn't collect it either.

ENG 12/1 (2.1)

Ben Duckett picks up a boundary off the last ball. England have once again made a shaky start. Shami up next again!

ENG 12/1 (2)

OUT! Hardik Pandya STRIKES! Phil Salt is gone, and his poor patch continues. Straight to Abhishek Sharma at cover. Simple catch.

OUT - Phil Salt - c Abhishek b Pandya - 5 (7)

ENG 7/1 (1.3)

Mohammed Shami makes a tidy start upon his comeback. Duckett manages just a single off the final ball.

ENG 6/0 (1)

Good first five balls by Mohammed Shami. Phil Salt has managed just the one boundary and a single. Finding good movement off the pitch, line and length solid.

Now Shami to Duckett!

ENG 5/0 (0.5)

Gently hit, down the ground, and all the way for 4! Lightning fast outfield. First runs for Phil Salt, who is massively searching for form.

ENG 4/0 (0.2)

Mohammed Shami will open the bowling for India. Phil Salt on strike! 

ENG 0/0

India once again have many bowling options to turn to:

1. Mohammed Shami

2. Hardik Pandya

3. Washington Sundar

4. Axar Patel

5. Varun Chakravarthy

6. Ravi Bishnoi

7. Abhishek Sharma

0 and 4. That has been the scores of Phil Salt so far in the series. He has been dismissed by Arshdeep in the first over of both games, but can he fare better against Mohammed Shami?

India have won 35 of their last 40 T20Is and 26 of their last 28. Staggering stats, and no matter how difficult in Tests, Gautam Gambhir has continued the good form in the shortest format of the game.

Mohammed Shami will likely open the bowling tonight, alongside Hardik Pandya. The 34-year-old comes in as a like-for-like swap for Arshdeep, and will pose a threat to the England batters with his swing and movement early on.

Here's England's playing XI for the 3rd T20I:

Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jos Buttler(c), Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Smith (wk), Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.

India's playing XI for the 3rd T20I:

Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Dhruv Jurel, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakravarthy.

England have made a switch, not to their playing XI, but to their wicket-keeper. Jamie Smith will be keeping wickets instead of Phil Salt, confirms Jos Buttler.

Mohammed Shami returns! Arshdeep Singh, who has been in such good form, has been rested for the game. Straight swap for Team India.

Shami will play makes his India comeback after 14 months. It will be his first game since the 2023 World Cup Final.

India have won the toss and have opted to bowl! They will be chasing for the third T20I in a row.

We are moments away from toss time. Will Mohammed Shami make his India comeback for the first time since the 2023 World Cup final?

England have as many as three batters who will play for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2025, but all of them have struggled for form.

Phil Salt has got out in the first over in both games, Liam Livingstone has managed a total of 13 runs, and Jacob Bethell got dropped!

Sanju Samson has had a couple of starts in the series, but hasn't kicked on and scored big yet. We know his capabilities - he scored 3 T20I hundreds in 2024. Can he flourish today?

Here's how the first two T20Is shaped up:

1st T20I, Kolkata

ENG - 132 all out (20)

IND - 133/3 (12.5)

2nd T20I, Chennai

ENG - 165/9 (20)

IND - 166/8 (19.2)

Varun Chakravarthy has run riot so far in the series, picking up 5 wickets in two games, and England batters in general have had no answer to the spin bowling. Even if it was the smog in Kolkata, it couldn't have been the same in Chennai. What answer will they have this time?

India may look to pump up their middle order a bit more today, and hand Shivam Dube a game. The left-hander brings handy spin as well, which could see him selected ahead of either Washington Sundar or Axar Patel.

England face a fair few headaches heading into the third T20I. The England batting has failed to fire, with stars like Phil Salt, Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone disappointing so far. 

Only captain Jos Buttler has stepped up, and is the highest run-scorer of the series so far with 113.

We are just 30 minutes away from toss time, which will take place at 6:30 PM IST. The game will begin at 7 PM IST.

The star of Tilak Varma continues to rise. We ghad seen his powerhitting in South Africa earlier, but the second T20I showed us his composure under pressure. 72 off 55 balls, and a superb knock to take India home on the day.

Tilak has now scored more than 300 runs without being dismissed in T20I cricket, a record.

India have no reason to change their winning combination purely based on performance, but they may be looking to give Mohammed Shami a game given the fact that he is in the Champions Trophy 2025 squad.

Shami's last game for India was the 2023 World Cup final. His last T20I was against England, back in November 2022.

Sitanshu Kotak also stated that Gautam Gambhir has a plan for Mohammed Shami.

"There is definitely a plan (for Shami) for coming matches as well and One-dayers, but the coach Gautam and obviously Surya will take a call. And fitness, definitely not a problem depending on how they are planning to build this load."

India's newly-appointed batting coach Sitanshu Kotak stated ahead of the third game that Shami is fit, but that he has no knowledge about the selection. Here's his exact quote, as per PTI:

"Yes, Shami is fit but something about him playing or not playing, I am not the one who can answer."

India have no major reason to change their lineup, but one question is on the lips of every fan: Will Mohammed Shami play?

Team India have had the ideal start to the five-match T20I series, and will be hoping to wrap up the series win today. 2 games, 2 wins so far!

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the India vs England 3rd T20I, right here on NDTV Sports! We are live from the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot.