New Delhi: India’s struggles in the T20I format continued on Thursday as England secured a dominant nine wicket victory in Bristol to clinch the five match series 3-0 with one match remaining. The defeat marked India’s third loss in four matches under captain Shreyas Iyer and extended a worrying run of poor results for the defending world champions.
After suffering a crushing 125 run defeat in Nottingham earlier in the week, India failed to recover at the County Ground. Batting first, the visitors never found sustained momentum and managed only 158 for 7 despite an unbeaten 80 from captain Shreyas Iyer, who fought a lone battle as wickets fell around him.
England made light work of the chase, reaching the target in just 13.5 overs. Captain Harry Brook led the charge with a blistering unbeaten 79 off 35 deliveries as the hosts wrapped up victory with 37 balls to spare.
The defeat added to a growing list of unwanted milestones for India. Shreyas Iyer has become only the second Indian captain to lose two consecutive bilateral T20I series after replacing Suryakumar Yadav in June. India had earlier suffered a 2-0 series defeat against Ireland, making this the team’s first back to back T20I series losses since 2019.
The Bristol defeat also ranks as India’s third heaviest T20I loss in terms of balls remaining, with only defeats against Australia in 2008 and 2025 ending more quickly. It followed India’s record 125 run defeat in Nottingham, where the team was bowled out for just 76 while chasing 202, registering its second lowest T20I total and biggest defeat by runs while batting second.
England’s triumph also ended India’s long dominance over the hosts in the shortest format. It is India’s first T20I series defeat to England since 2014 and its first bilateral series defeat in England across all formats since 2018, bringing to an end an unbeaten run that included victories in Test, One Day International and T20 International series on English soil.
