Tremendous capitulation: Gautam Gambhir-led India hit new low, slump to worst T20I defeat

76 all the way out. That’s all a loaded Indian batting line-up could muster in their 202-run chase to win the series at Trent Bridge. India hit a new low under Gautam Gambhir and lost a T20I by more than 100 runs for the first time in their history.

Chasing 202 at what is traditionally considered a good batting ground, India were carried away by the pace of Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue. They lost five wickets in the over for just 52 runs and their hopes of saving the series went up in flames.

IND vs ENG, 3rd T20I: Highlights

The final nail in the coffin came when Gautam Gambhir sent Harshit Rana off Shivam Dube during the power-play, signaling that India had already accepted defeat. The loss marked India’s fourth defeat in five matches under new captain Shreyas Iyer, who is still waiting for his first win as T20I captain.

BIZAAR TACTICS BY SHREYAS IYER

In many ways, Iyer must bear some of the blame for the defeat. First came some bizarre tactics with the ball as he took Prince Yadav out of the attack immediately after the pacer struck with the very first delivery of his spell.

Harshit Rana took the hat-trick in the 12th over but was dropped from the attack and brought back only in the 18th over. Result? A boundary from the first ball of his return.

With the bat, Shreyas got a juicy half volley onto leg stump only to pick out Jacob Bethell at deep square leg.

Shreyas’ wicket in the fifth over precipitated India’s collapse at a time when the team was in desperate need of stability. Yes, India may not have won the match yet, but they also might not have made it to the second-lowest total in their T20I history, in just 11.4 overs.

More to follow…

– The end

Issued by:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published on:

08 Jul 2026 01:36 IST