Watch: Saqib Mahmood creates history with triple-wicket maiden to blow India away in Pune T20I

Saqib Mahmood, on Friday (January 31), gave England a stunning start with the ball in the ongoing fourth T20I against India at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. With England facing a must-win situation in the game, the right-arm pacer put his team in the driver's seat by taking three wickets in an over.

Saqib Mahmood was recalled in the England playing eleven for the ongoing game after he warmed the bench for the first three T20Is. He replaced Mark Wood in the team. England captain Jos Buttler won the toss and opted to bowl first.

After Jofra Archer conceded 12 runs in the first over, the onus was on Saqib Mahmood to deliver a good over and he did not disappoint. Not only did he bowl a maiden over but also picked up three wickets to leave India reeling at 12/3 at the end of his first over.

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Saqib Mahmood delivers stunning over:

Bowling in an international game in India for the first time, Saqib Mahmood struck on the very first ball to send back Sanju Samson. He bowled a short delivery to the India opener who ended up miscuing his shot straight to the fielder at deep square leg.

On the second ball, he sent back in-form Tilak Varma for a duck. The left-handed batsman charged down against a wide delivery and edged the ball towards the third man where Jofra Archer took a fine catch. Suryakumar Yadav did not let Saqib Mahmood complete his hat-trick but perished in the same over. On the last delivery of the over, the India captain hit the ball straight to the fielder at short mid-on.

Watch as Saqib Mahmood picks up three wickets in an over without conceding a run:

pic.twitter.com/nSkWXVCmBj

— Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) January 31, 2025

Mahmood also became the first-ever bowler in men's T20Is to take three wickets in an over without conceding a run.

WW000W!

Saqib Mahmood's first over of the tour - and he starts with a triple-wicket maiden! 🤯

The first time this has EVER happened in a men's T20 international 😲 https://t.co/VRb0Bx1N07 pic.twitter.com/NsoK91TUFx

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 31, 2025

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After losing three wickets inside two overs, India did not lose any more wickets in the powerplay as Abhishek Sharma and Rinku Singh steadied the ship. However, just when it looked like the two were well settled, Adil Rashid struck to dismiss Sharma in the eighth over. The opening batsman departed after scoring 29 runs off 19 balls.

At the time of writing this report, India were on 69/4 after 9 overs with Rinku and Shivam Dube batting in the middle.