India vs England: Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 72 seals two-wicket win for hosts

India’s bowling attack was dominated by spinners – and having taken 11 English wickets in the series so far it’s an approach unlikely to change.

The most wickets England they have lost to spin in a T20 series is 14 (twice vs New Zealand, 2019 and 2023) and there are still three matches to go here.

By contrast, England largely put their faith in pace and Carse was the standout from their battery of quicks.

The Durham man was recalled to the side in place of Gus Atkinson, whose two overs cost 38 runs in the first T20 in Kolkata.

Carse made the highest T20 score by an England number eight since David Willey’s 33 against India in 2022 and took that momentum into his bowling.

His versatility on a pitch that required know how as well as raw pace underlined his usefulness in this format, and in these conditions.

Jofra Archer, who bowled brilliantly in the first match, found it tough going with a rather rigid short-ball approach.

Archer disappeared for 60 runs off his four overs, his most expensive figures in a T20, but Carse quickly wised up and expertly controlled his length.

Ben Stokes described Carse as “three bowlers in one” during England’s recent Test tour of New Zealand and his skills in the longer format were equally applicable here.

It was telling, though, that Adil Rashid was England’s most miserly bowler. His economy of 3.50 and was exactly half that of Carse’s.

There’s no hiding from the fact England’s squad for this series against the T20 World Cup champions looks light on spin options. And Rashid, at 36, is in the twilight of his career.