3rd T20I: Virat Kohli leads India’s fightback with scintillating fifty

Indian skipper Virat Kohli single-handedly helped the hosts register a competitive total in the third Twenty20 International against England with his 27th half-century in the format at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on Tuesday. 

Kohli struck eight boundaries and four maximums en route to his second consecutive fifty in the ongoing five-match series. His 49-ball 73-run knock in the second encounter on Sunday helped India level the series at 1-1. 

India lost KL Rahul (0) and Rohit Sharma (15) to English pacer Mark Wood and Ishan Kishan (4) to Chris Jordan as the visitors put the hosts under early pressure in the powerplay overs. 

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Rishabh Pant (25) looked well-settled and added 40 runs to the board with Kohli before the skipper pushed him for a tight third run, which led to the southpaw’s run-out. Soon after, Shreyas Iyer perished to a well-directed bouncer from Wood. Kohli had scored 27 runs from 29 deliveries so far. 

The skipper turned on the style from there on, smashing four sixes and three fours in the next three overs to notch his half century. He ended the innings unbeaten on 77 from 46 deliveries. Additionally, a late flourish from Pandya (17) helped India register a respectable total of 156 runs for the loss of six wickets.