The second T20I of the England tour of India 2025 will be held tonight at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, with play starting at 07:00 PM IST.
The host, leading the five-match series 1-0 after a dominant win over the Englishmen in Kolkata, will look to extend their advantage. The ‘Men in Blue’ have been in exceptional form, having won 25 of their last 27 T20Is since January of the previous year, and they will be eager to maintain that momentum.
Both teams come into this game with contrasting records at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium. England’s captain Jos Buttler has struggled in the past here, averaging just 24.5 with a strike rate of 108.88 in four T20I innings at this venue. In contrast, India’s star batter Suryakumar Yadav has a much better record, having scored 347 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 130.94. Buttler, who impressed with a knock of 68 off 44 in the opening match, will need to continue his form, while SKY, coming off a rare failure (scoring 0 off 3 balls in the last match), will be looking to bounce back. Their individual performances will likely be pivotal in the outcome of the game.
The pitch at MA Chidambaram Stadium is known for its dual nature – it assists both batters and spinners. However, during the last Indian Premier League (IPL) season, fast bowlers outshone spinners, with pacers claiming 74 wickets across 18 innings, compared to the 25 wickets taken by spinners. This trend may lead India to reconsider their team balance, possibly bringing Mohammed Shami to the playing XI. Shami’s inclusion could see either Ravi Bishnoi or Nitish Kumar Reddy make way, leaving the spin department thinner or lengthening the tail.
The host have received some concerning news ahead of the match, as Abhishek Sharma twisted his right ankle during the warm-up. The left-handed batter was visibly in pain. While his injury status remains uncertain, his absence would be a significant blow for India, given his strong performance in the first T20I.
One player to watch closely is Varun Chakravarthy, who has a special connection to Chennai. Before making a name for himself as an IPL bowler, Chakravarthy played as a net bowler for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) here back in 2018, and now, for the first time, he will don the Indian jersey at the ground in front of his friends and family. His performance could be crucial to India’s plans in this match.
India’s pacer Arshdeep Singh is closing in on a major personal milestone, just three wickets shy of reaching 100 T20I wickets. If he achieves the feat tonight, he will become the fastest fast bowler to do so, and only the third-fastest overall after Rashid Khan and Sandeep Lamichhane. His pace and accuracy will be vital for India’s success.
While England had little to celebrate after their defeat in the first T20I, Jofra Archer stood out as one of the few positives for the visitors. Despite the overall tough outing for England’s bowlers, Archer showed his class once again, reminding everyone why he is considered one of the best in the world. Meanwhile, England’s opening batter Phil Salt will have a crucial role to play in the second T20I. A solid start from Salt is essential to help England avoid another poor start, which derailed their start in the first match.
Head-to-Head:
India and England have faced off in 25 T20I encounters, with the hosts holding a slight edge, having won 14 times compared to England’s 11 victories. When it comes to T20Is played in India, England have won five out of 12 matches, losing seven, with three of those losses coming consecutively in the most recent encounters between the two teams.
Where to Watch:
TV: Star Sports
OTT: Disney+ Hotstar