India’s mini slump in T20Is: What happened to Shreyas Iyer’s team?
India’s unbeaten aura in T20Is suddenly began to crack. Just months after lifting the T20 World Cup and completing the entire World Cup cycle without losing a bilateral series, India find themselves in an unfamiliar position. Shreyas Iyer’s side have now won just one of their last four T20Is, losing the two-match series in Ireland before a four-wicket haul against England in Manchester on Saturday, July 4.
While the first T20I against England was scrappy, Jacob Bethell’s sensational unbeaten 76 helped the hosts chase down 191 with six balls to spare in the second match, handing India another setback in what is turning into an early wobble for the new side.
Despite the results, vice-captain Ishan Kishan insisted there was no need to panic and said the team remained confident about the direction they were heading.
“We have played good cricket. We have room for improvement. It is important that we realize how we can improve in these games. Winning or not winning makes a big difference in your mindset as well. We are all adults here and we can figure out how we can improve,” Kishan said after the match.
INSUFFICIENT BATTING RUNS
India’s batting was one of the biggest themes of Sunday’s match.
After struggling through the Irish series, the batting unit showed more intent in Manchester, posting 190. But even that proved insufficient as England chased down the target with a shootout.
Kishan admitted that India left runs on the table.
“There is a lot of analysis in the team. I think it was better to bat first here. We would have controlled everything if we had 20 more runs,” he said.
The left-hander felt the game was largely under India’s control before England took advantage of some costly errors from the bowlers.
“I think next time we’ll keep it simple. It might be best to be together at this point and understand what went wrong and how to improve. And that’s how you improve by being together,” he added.
DISCIPLINE WITH THE BALL
Although India made a decent total, the bowlers failed to defend the score.
Bethell punished anything loose while Harry Brook ensured England never allowed the required pace to creep out of reach. Kishan suggested that a handful of poor deliveries ultimately proved decisive despite India controlling large phases of the contest.
The defeat also highlighted growing concerns about a side that has built its recent success on disciplined bowling and relentless pressure through the middle overs.
LOSSES TESTS INDIA’S CONFIDENCE
Perhaps the biggest challenge facing the team is more mental than technical.
India have made a habit of winning over the past two years and have dominated bilateral cricket before lifting another T20 World Cup. Three defeats in four completed T20Is represent uncharted territory for a team that has rarely had to respond to setbacks in recent times.
Kishan acknowledged that losing consistently can affect confidence but encouraged the dressing room to stick together rather than overreact.
“Winning or not winning makes a big difference in your mindset,” he said, while stressing that the team will analyze its mistakes collectively and improve as a group.
PROTECTION OF VAIBHAV SOORYAVANSHI
Amid the disappointing result, India also marked the beginning of a new chapter by handing 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi his international debut.
The teenage opener, who earned his call-up after a remarkable IPL season and record-breaking India A campaign, scored 14 off 10 balls in Manchester.
Kishan said the dressing room was focused on ensuring that the youngest player in India’s T20I history settled into international cricket without feeling overwhelmed.
“He’s done so well the last two years. He broke into the side at a time when the team was doing well. When you realize how talented he is and the X-factor he brings, you try to look after him,” Kishan said.
“I feel like all the senior players are trying to look after him, that he doesn’t go into a different mindset. What he’s done the last two years is very difficult for any batsman. But he’s achieved that greatness.”
“So we’re going to try to be there with him, share our experiences with him, answer his questions and tell him how we can help him.”
For India, the defeat in Manchester may sting, but the bigger challenge now is to ensure that the brief slump does not turn into a long-lasting loss of confidence. With three more T20Is remaining in England’s series, Iyer’s side have an immediate opportunity to rediscover the rhythm that has made them one of the most dominant white-ball teams in world cricket over the past two years.
– The end
Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
05 Jul 2026 11:49 IST