[Watch]: Saqib Mahmood Destroys India’s Top Order In A Single Over, Registers Unique Record

The ongoing T20I series between England and India has been nothing short of thrilling. After India took a commanding 2-0 lead, England clawed their way back with a victory in the third T20I. However, it was the fourth T20I in Pune that left cricket fans stunned, as England’s reserve pacer Saqib Mahmood made an electrifying impact with a triple-wicket maiden, shaking India’s top order early in the innings.

England’s Decisive Move in the 4th T20I

The fourth match took place at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. Trailing 2-1 in the five-match series, England opted to bowl first after winning the toss. Their plan was clear – apply pressure early and restrict India to a manageable total. Jofra Archer’s first over leaked 12 runs, but things turned drastically in the second over when skipper Jos Buttler handed the ball to Saqib Mahmood.

Saqib Mahmood’s Game-Changing Spell

Mahmood’s very first delivery forced Sanju Samson into a false shot. The shorter delivery cramped Samson for room, and he played it straight into the hands of Brydon Carse at deep square leg. India had lost their first wicket cheaply.

Tilak Varma, who had shined in the second T20I, tried to take on Mahmood immediately. His aggressive attempt to charge down the pitch led to a mistimed shot, resulting in an edge straight to the third-man fielder. With two wickets in two balls, the English camp erupted in excitement.

India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, walked in with hopes of steadying the innings. He defended the next three deliveries carefully, avoiding a hat-trick. However, the final ball of the over was fuller, and SKY tried to flick it but ended up playing it straight to short mid-on. A stunned silence filled the stadium as India found themselves at 12/3 after just two overs.

Triple wickets maiden from #SaqibMahmood . Destroyed Indian top order #INDvsENG pic.twitter.com/ByxAVa9HAt

— Shakir Abbasi (@ShakirAbbasi22) January 31, 2025

Impact of Mahmood’s Spell on India’s Batting Lineup

Mahmood’s sensational over completely disrupted India’s momentum. With three of their key batters back in the pavilion, India was forced into a defensive approach. The pressure was immense, and England capitalized on it brilliantly.

Mahmood became the first English player to bowl a triple-wicket maiden and the first from any team to do so against India in T20Is.

Mahmood’s Struggles Before the Series

Interestingly, Mahmood wasn’t even supposed to play earlier due to visa issues. Much like Shoaib Bashir’s struggles during England’s last tour, Mahmood faced delays in obtaining an Indian visa due to his Pakistani heritage. He had to wait in the UK while England trained in the UAE. When he finally joined the squad, he made his presence felt in the most impactful way possible.

India’s Attempt at Recovery

Abhishek Sharma and Rinku Singh put up a resilient batting performance, despite the early setbacks, and managed to maintain a healthy run-rate of approximately 8 runs per over. However, Rinku’s dismissal by Carse’s aggressive bowling left India in a precarious position at 79/5. It was then that Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya joined forces, with Dube expertly neutralizing the threat posed by Rashid’s spin and Pandya taking his time before unleashing a flurry of attacking shots. The duo went on to score impressive half-centuries and propelled India’s total well beyond 180.