IND vs ENG, 5th T20I: Toss in Southampton delayed after Indian team stuck in traffic jam

In a bizarre turn of events, the draw for the fifth and final T20I between India and England in Southampton was delayed on Saturday, July 11, after the Indian team bus got stuck in traffic on its way to the Rose Bowl.

The match was thrown off schedule after the Indian players and support staff failed to arrive on time. At 13:58 local time (18:28 IST), there were reports that visitors were being held up on the road, prompting officials to postpone the draw. Live footage later showed the Indian contingent arriving at the venue, while broadcaster Ravi Shastri confirmed on air that head coach Gautam Gambhir and the rest of the team had experienced traffic delays.

India vs England 5th T20I: Update

Broadcasters later announced that the draw would take place at 19:15 IST, 45 minutes later than originally scheduled, with the match starting at 19:30.

The delay was surprising, the draw traditionally took place half an hour before the scheduled start of the game. The Rose Bowl, located on the outskirts of Southampton, has faced criticism at times due to traffic congestion and accessibility issues on match days.

With the series already out of their reach, India enter the fifth and final T20I looking to salvage some pride after England sealed an elusive 3-0 lead with a dominant win in Bristol.

The visitors struggled to keep up with aggressive English cricket throughout the series, with the hosts commanding performances with both bat and ball. India’s batting line-up lacked consistency while their bowlers struggled to handle England’s formidable top order.

The fourth T20I in Bristol encapsulated India’s disappointing tour. Chasing 159, England won by nine wickets, with captain Harry Brook leading the charge with a fluent 79. Phil Salt also chipped in with a half-century as the hosts completed the chase with over six overs to spare.

Earlier in the series, India suffered their heaviest defeat in T20 Internationals, collapsing by 76 runs at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, slumping to a crushing 125-run loss.

Saturday’s encounter in Southampton marks India’s last opportunity to finish the series on a positive note before moving on to the ODI leg of the tour, which begins on July 14 at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

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Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

11 Jul 2026 18:39 IST