England 201/7 in 20.0 Overs | India vs. England 3rd T20I Live Score: Philip Salt’s 70 powers England to 201/7 despite return of Prince Yadav and Harshit Rana

India vs. England 3rd T20I Live Score: When the third T20I gets underway at Trent Bridge today, Shreyas Iyer’s side will not only be looking for their first win of the series but will also try to halt the worrying slide that followed their T20 World Cup triumph. England held a 1-0 lead after losing their opener in Durham and a four-goal chase in Manchester left the visitors a must-win.

Defeat in Nottingham would give England an unassailable lead in the five-match series, while further intensifying scrutiny on an Indian side still struggling to find its identity under a new captain.

The transition was anything but smooth. Iyer is yet to win a T20I as India’s captain, but his problems stretch back to franchise cricket, having won just one of his last ten completed T20 matches as captain. More worrying for India was their inability to play consistently in the overseas conditions, where the batting line-up looked less fluid against disciplined bowling attacks.

The second T20I summed up India’s current situation. They posted a competitive 190 but could not defend it despite having enough runs on the board. Their tactical challenges have also come under the scanner. The decision to bat first was made with the expectation that the surface would remain consistent throughout the match, but England adapted better as the conditions developed.

The bowling combination also raised questions. India opted to field three specialist spinners, a move that reduced their options at the death. Ravi Bishnoi endured a forgettable outing, struggling for rhythm and falling hard in the closing stages as England seized control of the chase. His performance has opened the door to a possible reshuffle, with the management likely to consider adding another seamer or introducing an all-rounder to improve the balance of the XI.

However, there is one positive that India hopes to build on. Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi showed flashes of his immense talent on debut and will be eager to convert that promise into a defining innings as the series reaches a critical stage.

Meanwhile, England arrived at Trent Bridge with momentum firmly on their side. Harry Brook’s captaincy has got off to an encouraging start as the batting unit continues to play under pressure. Jacob Bethell’s unbeaten 76 in Manchester highlighted the depth of England’s middle order and Sam Curran again proved his worth by finishing the chase with authority.

Apart from the series, England’s leadership remains an interesting subplot. When Ben Stokes retired from international cricket, Brook emerged as the main contender for the Test captaincy. A successful series against the reigning world champions would further enhance his reputation and strengthen the ECB’s faith in the leadership partnership of Brook and head coach Brendon McCullum.

England playing XI: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Harry Brook (c), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Josh Tongue