Some start to this series. Three more games to come. Rajkot is the venue for the next one, that will be played on Tuesday. Hope you enjoyed our coverage today, do join us back next week for more of this. And of course, on this website, the cricket is always on. Sidharth Monga's report is up, and you can catch Deivarayan Muthu's post-game content soon. Right then, that's all we have from Chennai tonight. Till the next time, on behalf of Chandan and Matt, this is Sudarshanan saying goodbye, goodnight! Ciao, aficionados!
10:47pm Time for the presentation
Jos Buttler, England captain: "Great game. Really exciting end, credit to Tilak for getting them over the line. We created a lot of chances, really pushed them close. Really pleased the way we went about with the bat. There was the aggression we asked for, nearly a defendable score. Jamie Smith on debut playing the way he did, Brydon Carse and the guys creating chances with the ball. We will improve on it all but happy with the style. They are going to play three spinners, so they are going to take wickets. If we take them for runs, I am happy."
Suryakumar Yadav, India captain: "A little bit of relief. The way the game was going, we felt 160 was good, but the way they bowled, 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. The chat was to play like the last game. Good to see we are playing aggressive brand of cricket, at the same time, guys put their hands up and stitched the small partnerships. Very happy with the way Tilak batted, something to learn for everyone. Good to see someone take responsibility. Ravi Bishnoi putting the hard work in the nets, he wants to contribute with the bat. The boys have taken off a lot of pressure, the atmosphere in the dressing room is light. There will be days it won't come off, but we know what we want to do. If we are on the same page, good things will take place."
Tilak Varma, Player of the Match: "The wicket was slightly two-paced. I was talking with Gautam sir yesterday, he said whatever happens, you should play according to the situation. If team needs ten 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 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 results. [Partnership with Bishnoi] I told him to hold his shape and hit the gap. He played a flick and hit a four off Livingstone, that made it a bit easier."
10:32pm A thrilling night of T20I cricket and India are 2-0 up in Chennai. An incredible run-chase given the way it eventually panned out. Never safe to call a winner. India began at breakneck speed. Just like England's bowling speeds. But they lost wickets regularly. Samson, Abhishek, Suryakumar, Jurel all fell. Which is when Tilak reduced a gear. And then he had to really maneuver it all in the end with three No. 11s for company. Two of those did their bits - Arshdeep taking on Archer and then Bishnoi with the twin fours. Not to forget the small little innings of Washington, especially that duel against Wood. Ufff, what a game we have had!
Ravi Bishnoi: "[On chat with Tilak] Let's try, we will get it. He was set and I did not want to play a rash shot because we had less wickets in hand. Today only I posted a reel on Instagram, saying why should batters have all the fun. When slip came in, I knew he would try and dismiss me with legspin. But I hit him with the spin for four. [On Tilak's knock] Tilak's one of the best T20 innings. There were big names in the oppositions. He is doing this from South Africa, did well in domestic as well. (He is asked what his next reel is going to be, he just holds his bat up and laughs!)"
Sampath: Tilak Varma in T20Is since his last dismissal - 318 runs in 174 balls at 182.75 SR with 24 fours and 22 sixes
Rob Boyd : "Did Buttler miss a trick here? Surely you would have wanted two of Archer, Carse and Rashid to bowl the last two but he had gambled on them earlier and none had any overs left?" He did have one of Wood's unused. Not sure what Buttler could have done, because essentially it was his captaincy that made thsi finish a close one. Otherwise India were running away with this. And mind you, England were quite short - at least 10-15 runs
Pavan: "Sunder hitting 14 Runs in that over made the difference and gave India chance to win this match. No undermining Tilak's Innings here"
Professor: "One of the best T20 innings during chase by this young lad Tilak. Take a bow!"
Anonymous: "This might be one of the best T20i matches i've seen. Not too high or low scoring and a thrilling run chase down to the last over. What an innings by Tilak"
While the review was on, Buttler was already readying the field for the last over. Overton and not Wood to bowl. Six needed.
END OF OVER:19 | 7 Runs | IND: 160/8 (6 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 8.42, RRR: 6.00)
- Ravi Bishnoi9 (5b)
- Tilak Varma66 (53b)
- Liam Livingstone2-0-14-1
- Brydon Carse4-0-29-3
10 needed off 8, Bishnoi on strike. Buttler taking time to get his field right. Slip in place
Piyush: "What's the run penalty for not starting the over within a minute? " Another warning will cost England five penalty runs
Deep point and long-off the two men deep on the off side, others are deep on leg
13 off 12. Two big hits, Tilak might be thinking? A conversation between Buttler and Rashid. Overton to have the ball. Not Wood. How did they come to this conclusion? Never mind. Buttler has changed it now. Brings Livingstone on. Think Buttler is inclined to bait India here than going at them with pure skill/logic. England have a second warning now for not starting the over inside a minute
END OF OVER:18 | 7 Runs | IND: 153/8 (13 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 8.50, RRR: 6.50)
- Ravi Bishnoi5 (3b)
- Tilak Varma63 (49b)
- Brydon Carse4-0-29-3
- Adil Rashid4-0-14-1
Mustafa Moudi : "Dont understand why Arshdeep already unnecessarily tries to go big everytime ?? India paid the price was this in the first ODI Against Sri Lanka, which ended in a Tie that could have won easily. And now again he repeated the blunder!!"
Ravi Bishnoi waits at the other end. Carse has ball in hand
Here's Sampath: Indian batters scored 47 runs off Jofra Archer behind the square today. These are the most any team's batters scored off a bowler behind the square in a men's T20I (as per ESPNcricinfo's bbb logs)
END OF OVER:17 | 1 Run 1 Wkt | IND: 146/8 (20 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.58, RRR: 6.66)
- Tilak Varma61 (46b)
- Adil Rashid4-0-14-1
- Jofra Archer4-0-60-1
Arshdeep Singh c Archer b Rashid 6 (10m 4b 1x4 0x6) SR: 150
A free hit for Arshdeep really. Long-off, midwicket come in. Slip in place, six men in the ring, a leg slip in there too
Rashid to finish his quota now
END OF OVER:16 | 19 Runs | IND: 145/7 (21 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 9.06, RRR: 5.25)
- Arshdeep Singh6 (3b)
- Tilak Varma60 (41b)
- Jofra Archer4-0-60-1
- Liam Livingstone1-0-7-1