The second T20I between India and England in Chennai has us reminiscing about thrillers from the past
India dominated the first T20I at Eden Gardens, winning by seven wickets. Young Abhishek Sharma grabbed the stage with a stunning 34-ball 79, five boundaries, and eight huge sixes. Chasing a modest 133, India won with an incredible 43 balls to spare. England, guided by Brendon McCullum in his first white-ball coaching assignment, was left biting their wounds. However, when the action shifts to Chennai for the second T20I, the venue adds its own appeal and history.
#INDvsENG First T20I
— BN Adhikari (@AdhikariBN) January 23, 2025
In Cricket, India defeated England by 7 wickets in the first T20 international of the five-match series at #EdenGardens, #Kolkata last evening.
Chasing the target of 133 runs set by England, India reached the target in 12.5 overs for the loss of three… pic.twitter.com/Wcl4z5RBGl
Chennai, known as the “fortress of Indian cricket,” has only hosted two T20 internationals to date. Both matches were full of drama, nail-biting moments, and memorable performances. Let’s go over these fights again before the men in blue take on England in what looks to be another thrilling match.
The first T20I in Chennai was played on September 11, 2012, during New Zealand’s tour of India. This was a nail-biting match. New Zealand, headed by Brendon McCullum, set the tone with an explosive batting performance.
The Black Caps struggled early, losing Rob Nicol and Martin Guptill for one run. But then came McCullum, who dominated with a scorching 91 off 55 balls, including 11 fours and three sixes. Along with Kane Williamson (28 off 26) and Ross Taylor (25* off 19), McCullum led New Zealand to 167/5 in 20 overs.
The chase for India got off to a rocky start as Gautam Gambhir fell cheaply. However, Virat Kohli wowed with 70 off 41 deliveries, while Yuvraj Singh contributed 34 off 26. Despite their valiant efforts, India came painfully short, finishing at 166/4. The one-run loss devastated fans, with McCullum winning Player of the Match and Series accolades.
Six years later, on November 11, 2018, Chennai hosted its second Twenty20 International, this time against the West Indies. If the first match was about heartbreak, this one was about perseverance and talent.
West Indies batted first, scoring a respectable 181/3. Nicholas Pooran’s spectacular 53 off 25 balls and Darren Bravo’s 43* off 37 set the stage for a thrilling chase. However, India’s bowlers, headed by Yuzvendra Chahal (2/28), held the visitors in check.
India’s response was all about Shikhar Dhawan. The left-hander was at his imperious best, scoring 92 off 62 balls, including 10 fours and two sixes. Rishabh Pant contributed with a quickfire 58 off 38, but it all came down to the last ball. With one run remaining, Dhawan fell, but Manish Pandey kept his nerve to seal a dramatic six-wicket victory. Dhawan was rightfully awarded Player of the Match, but Kuldeep Yadav’s continuous performance won him the Player of the Series honour.
Although Chepauk has only hosted two T20Is, it has produced moments that fans still talk about enthusiastically. From McCullum’s masterpiece to Dhawan’s domination, Chennai has consistently delivered.
As India prepares to play England in the upcoming T20I at this legendary venue, the question remains: will we witness another chapter of excellent cricket drama? Only time will tell.
