One humiliation too many: Shashi Tharoor bats India’s nightmare in T20Is

Senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor delivered a scathing verdict on India’s latest T20I defeat, describing England’s series win as “one humiliation too many” after another dismal performance by the reigning world champions.

Soon after England sealed a comprehensive nine-wicket victory in the fourth T20I in Bristol on Thursday, Tharoor went to X to express his disbelief.

“I’m really speechless. I’m amazed. I’m amazed.”

This is too much humiliation. There’s literally nothing to say.” Shashi Tharoor criticized the Indian T20I side after their defeat to England in the 3rd edition of the T20I in Bristol. (Image: Screengrab by X/@ShashiTharoor)

His reaction came after Harry Brook and Phil Salt tore through India’s bowling attack with unbeaten half-centuries to chase down the target of 159 in just 13.5 overs, giving England an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

The defeat added to a troubling run for India, who have now lost a back-to-back bilateral T20I series for the first time since 2019. The side had already suffered a 2-0 defeat to Ireland before arriving in England, a stark contrast to the optimism that followed their T20 World Cup triumph in Ahmedabad just four months ago.

ENG vs IND, 4th T20I: Highlighting | Message

India’s only bright spot in Bristol was skipper Shreyas Iyer, whose unbeaten 80 off 49 balls lifted the visitors to 158/7 after the top order again struggled against England’s pace attack. However, the total was nowhere near as Brook played an unbeaten 79 off just 35 deliveries, while Phil Salt finished with an unbeaten 59 to complete the one-sided chase.

The latest setback also continued a difficult start to Iyer’s tenure as India’s T20I captain. The 30-year-old has overseen a string of successive defeats after taking over following the World Cup win and is still looking for consistency from the side in transition.

Tharoor’s remarks quickly caught the attention of fans on social media, with many pointing to an alarming dip in India’s form. For a team that lifted the T20 World Cup just months ago, the current run represents one of the poorest stretches in the format in recent years.

India will have one last chance to avoid a series fade when they take on England in the fifth and final T20I at Southampton on Saturday.

– The end

Issued by:

Amar Panicker

Published on:

10 Jul 2026 04:29 IST