Published By: Sayan Guha

IND vs. ENG T20I: Only THESE Indian Bowlers Have Taken a Threefer at Eden Gardens in T20Is

A closer look at India’s bowlers who’ve starred with a three-wicket haul at the iconic Eden Gardens, setting the stage for the upcoming T20I series

The first T20I of India's five-match series against England will take place on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. This historic arena, famed for its wild atmosphere, is about to light up again after nearly three years of T20I stillness. The excitement is apparent as the defending World Cup champions, India, prepare to face England, the two-time T20 World Cup winners.

Mohammad Shami's comeback strengthens India's lineup, while Suryakumar Yadav is eager to maintain his series-winning trend as captain. Captained by Jos Buttler, England will want to establish their influence from the start. As the two powerhouses collide, this series promises to be nothing short of exciting. Another intriguing element to look forward to is the performances at Eden Gardens, mainly because India's bowlers have produced some excellent three-wicket hauls in T20Is here.

Axar Patel: 3/9 vs New Zealand, Nov 2021

One of the most interesting performances occurred in November 2021, when Axar Patel bowled an outstanding spell against New Zealand in the third T20I. Bowling only three overs, Axar's superb control and variations enabled him to finish with figures of 3/9 and an economy rate of 3.00.

His first wicket came in the second over when he removed Daryl Mitchell, who Harshal Patel caught at cover. Mark Chapman, Axar's second victim, was defeated by Rishabh Pant after being outwitted using flight and dip. The third and last scalp was Glenn Phillips, who was bowled out while trying a reverse sweep. India won by 73 runs, with Axar's spell helping to limit New Zealand to 111 in their 185-run chase.

Kuldeep Yadav: 3/13 vs West Indies, Nov 2018

In the first T20I against the West Indies at Eden Gardens in 2018, Kuldeep Yadav's magic shone through. Kuldeep bowled a mesmerising burst of 3/12 in four overs, surrendering only 3.25 per over. His first breakthrough came in the tenth over when he removed Darren Bravo, who was caught by Shikhar Dhawan at far on. A few overs later, he dismissed Rovman Powell with a brilliant googly, sending him to the pavilion after Dinesh Karthik collected a thin edge.

Kuldeep finished his three-wicket haul by trapping Craig Brathwaite right in front of the stumps. India defended a modest score of 110, with Kuldeep's performance the highlight of a commanding 5-wicket victory.

Harshal Patel: 3/22 vs West Indies, Feb 2022

Harshal Patel delivered an outstanding performance in February 2022 during the third T20I against the West Indies. Harshal bowled 3/22 in four overs at a 5.50 economy rate. His first wicket came in the sixth over, when he dismissed Rovman Powell with a brilliant short ball that Shardul Thakur caught at fine leg.

Harshal's second wicket was the prized scalp of Roston Chase, who was caught off guard with a slower ball, reminiscent of his IPL death-over abilities. He finished with three wickets, eliminating Romario Shepherd, who was caught by Rohit Sharma at extra cover. India triumphed by 17 runs, with Harshal's brilliance in the final overs securing the victory.

Setting the stage for more magic

As India prepares to play England in a highly anticipated series, the bowlers are poised to make another imprint at Eden Gardens. With a strong history of outstanding bowling performances at this site, the next bouts offer even more excitement and opportunity for bowlers to steal the spotlight.

Who will be the next Indian bowler to take three wickets at Eden Gardens? The scene is set, and all eyes will be on the bowlers to perform when it counts the most.