‘Subdued. Gobsmacked’: Shashi Tharoor’s scathing reaction to India’s humiliation in England
Team India (pic cricket: BCCI) NEW DELHI: Congress MP and well-known cricket enthusiast Shashi Tharoor delivered a scathing verdict on India’s latest T20I collapse after England sealed an emphatic 3-0 series win, saying he was left “speechless” by yet another humiliating defeat.India’s nine-wicket loss in the fourth T20I in Bristol gave England an unassailable lead in the five-match series and extended a disappointing overseas run for the reigning T20 world champions.Responding to X shortly after the match, Tharoor summed up the mood among Indian fans with a sharply worded post.“I am truly speechless. Speechless. Stunned. This is too much humiliation. There is literally nothing to say,” he wrote.His remarks came after India failed to defend a modest total of 158/7, with England chasing them down in just 13.5 overs thanks to an unbeaten 146-run partnership between captain Harry Brook (79 not out) and Phil Salt (59 not out).
Shreyas Iyer: ‘Happy with his performance but…’
India captain Shreyas Iyer admitted his side were second best in every department despite producing an unbeaten fighting 80 off 49 balls after the visitors suffered another batting collapse.“It was disappointing again. Definitely 158 was not an ideal total on the board,” Iyer said.He felt that the Indian bowlers did not execute their plans after England capitalized on loose deliveries.“I think we were a little behind in terms of execution. When we changed the pace, when we tried something different, they scored off those loose balls,” he said.Reflecting on his own innings, Iyer said the individual milestones offered little consolation in defeat.“I’m definitely happy with my performance, but if it’s not in a winning situation, it just goes by the wayside. Whenever I play, I want to perform and see my team win,” he said.The skipper also urged patience with the young team and described the current phase as part of India’s rebuilding process.“This is a transition phase and we will make a lot of mistakes. A lot of youngsters are playing in these conditions for the first time. It is important that you learn quickly from your mistakes,” he added.
The coach admits that India are “underachieving” overseas.
Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate offered an equally candid assessment, saying India had to face the reality that they had underperformed away from home.“We have to accept the fact that we are not achieving good results in foreign conditions,” he said.The former Netherlands international emphasized that the challenge is not just technical but mental and urged the players to adapt quicker to overseas pitches instead of relying on methods that have succeeded in India.“What works in India doesn’t necessarily work here. We just haven’t been able to move away from that mindset,” he said.India will now look to avoid a 4-0 scoreline when they take on England in the fifth and final T20I at Southampton on Saturday, hoping to salvage some pride after a series that drew criticism from fans, pundits and politicians alike.
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