NEW DELHI: Congress MP and noted cricket enthusiast Shashi Tharoor delivered a scathing verdict on India’s latest T20I collapse after England sealed an emphatic 3-0 series victory, saying he was left “speechless” by yet another humiliating defeat.India’s nine-wicket loss in the fourth T20I at Bristol handed England an unassailable lead in the five-match series, extending a disappointing overseas run for the reigning T20 world champions.Reacting shortly after the match, Tharoor took to X and summed up the mood among Indian fans with a sharply worded post.“I’m truly speechless. Dumbfounded. Gobsmacked. This is one humiliation too many. There is literally nothing to be said,” he wrote.His remarks came after India failed to defend a modest total of 158/7, with England chasing it 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 my performance, but…’
India captain Shreyas Iyer admitted his side was second best in every department despite producing a fighting unbeaten 80 off 49 balls after the visitors suffered another batting collapse.“Again, it was a disappointing one. Definitely, 158 wasn’t the perfect total on the board,” Iyer said.He felt India’s bowlers failed to execute their plans after England capitalised on loose deliveries.“I think we fell a bit short in terms of our execution. When we were changing the pace, when we were trying something else, they scored off those loose balls,” he said.Reflecting on his own innings, Iyer said individual milestones offered little consolation in defeat.“Definitely happy with my performance, but if it’s not in the winning cause, it just goes to the side. Whenever I play, I want to perform and see to it that my team wins,” he said.The skipper also urged patience with a young squad, describing the current phase as part of India’s rebuilding process.“This is the transition phase and we will be making a lot of mistakes. A lot of youngsters are playing in these conditions for the first time. It’s important that you learn quickly from your mistakes,” he added.
Coach admits India are ‘underachieving’ overseas
Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate offered an equally honest assessment, saying India must confront the reality that they have struggled badly outside home conditions.“We need to accept the fact that we are underachieving in foreign conditions,” he said.The former Netherlands international stressed that the challenge was not just technical but mental, urging players to adapt more quickly to overseas pitches instead of relying on methods that succeed in India.“What works in India won’t necessarily work here. We just haven’t managed to shift 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 in Southampton on Saturday, hoping to salvage some pride after a series that has drawn criticism from fans, experts and politicians alike.
