Benched for 1st 2 T20Is vs India, England star sends message to team management with 4/25 in T20 Blast

England's 23-year-old pacer Sonny Baker hasn't played a T20I since his debut against Ireland in September 2025. Baker is a part of the current T20I squad against India for the five-T20I series but yet to get his chance. Ahead of the third T20I of the series on July 7, he was released from the squad to play in the T20 Blast 2026. Representing Hampshire, he claimed an economical four-fer against Kent in their 19-run win in Southampton on July 5.

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Baker strikes early but goes for plenty

Chasing 191, Baker struck with the new ball. He knocked over Bell-Drummond's middle stump in the second over. Zak Crawley and Tawanda Muyeye dealt in sixes in the powerplay overs. Muyeye hit Baker for a four and two sixes in the fourth over. Kent were 70/1 after powerplay overs. In the eighth over, Andrew John Neal broke the partnership with Crawley's wicket. He got out lbw for a 17-ball 36. In the 11th over, Muyeye reached his fifty from 29 balls. On the very next ball, he lost his wicket to James Fuller. By then, Kent had already crossed the 100-run mark.

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Kent lose the plot in run chase, Currie-Baker finish it off

Skipper Sam Billings couldn't do much with the bat and fell for a 15-ball 18 to Scott Currie. Baker returned to end Harry Finch's stay at the crease in the 16th over. Grant Stewart fell to Chris Wood in the 17th over. He bowled the penultimate over as well and dismissed Jake Lintott and Tom Rogers. In the final over, Kent needed 20 runs to win. Baker got the wickets of Matt Milnes and Joe Denly to wrap the proceedings. Denly batted at no.11 due to a leg injury while fielding. Baker ended up conceding just 25 runs from 3.2 overs to take four wickets, his second four-fer in the format.

Earlier, skipper James Vince (40-ball 63), Jake Weatherley's fifties (47-ball 61) and Tristan Stubbs's 24-ball 41 helped Hampshire post 190/3.

Will Baker play the third T20I?

In the first T20I, Luke Wood played in Jofra Archer's absence. As Archer returned for the second T20I, Wood was dropped. Also, Josh Tongue made his debut in Saqib Mahmood's place. Tongue ended up conceding 46 runs from his quota of four overs and remained wicketless. It will be interesting to see whether Harry Brook makes the change and brings back either Mahmood or gives Baker a chance after his fine display in T20 Blast fixture. The third T20I will be played at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.