The 3rd T20I of the India vs England 2021 series was played at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on 16 March 2021. The pitch for 3rd T20 international was prepared on red soil instead of black soil. The England captain, Eoin Morgan, was going to play his 100th T20I match. The toss was important for both the captains because the dew was going to be beneficial for the second batting. England captain Morgan won the toss and decided to have the ball in hand first. Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul were sent on the crease to open and Adil Rashid got the responsibility of the new ball.
KL Rahul continued his flop show and was dismissed for 0 by Mark Wood in 2.3 overs. Once again, Rahul failed and went for the duck in two consecutive matches. Then Ishan Kishan came to join Sharma and tried to cover up but could not get success and surrendered in front of the England Pacers. The Indian team had lost the 3 wickets at the score of 24 runs only. England fast bowlers especially Wood demolished the top order completely. Virat Kohli at the number 4 position was standing on the crease on the other side but did not get enough support from other batsmen. Indian captain played a captaincy unbeaten inning of 77 runs from 46 balls that helped the team to put a total of 156 runs on the scoreboard. Mark Wood performed very well with the ball and took 3 wickets and Chris Jordan got 2 wickets. The target was not very big for England’s power hitter and all the burden had gone on the shoulders of Indian bowlers especially spin attack. England needed 157 runs from 120 to win the 3rd T20I of the Ind and Eng series.
Jason Roy and Jos Buttler came on the crease to chase the target and Bhuvneshwar Kumar got the new ball in hand. England also lost the first wicket of Jason Roy very early in 3.3 overs at the score of 23 runs. After the dismissal, Dawid Malan joined Buttler and built up the first wicket partnership of 58 runs. Afterward, Dawid Malan missed a ball of Washington Sundar and was stumped by Rishabh Pant in 9.4 overs. Jonny Bairstow at the number 4th position with Jos Buttler completed the first 100 runs on the scoreboard in 11.5 overs at the loss of 2 wickets. Jos Buttler completed his 11th T20I fifty from just 26 balls. Jos Buttler played an incredible match-winning of 83 runs from 52 balls with five 4s and four 6s that helped England to get the target easily in 18.2 overs. Jos Buttler and Bairstow showed wonderful form with the bat and built up the 2nd wicket partnership of 77 runs. Jonny Bairstow also performed well and contributed 40 runs from 28 balls at the strike rate of 142.86. Thus, England won the 3rd T20 International and led the 5 T20I series of India vs England 2021 by 2-1.
England won the 3rd T20I match of the India and England 2021 series by 8 wickets and Jos Buttler was named Man of the Match for his 83 runs and that was his highest total in his T20I career.