Gautam Gambhir being questioned after the 0-4 defeat to England (Image: AP)
After India’s forgettable 0-4 defeat in the T20I series against England, former India batsman Mohammad Kaif launched a scathing attack on the team management, questioning the handling of young sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi and senior wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson.England completely outclassed India in the T20I of the white-ball tour, registering a dominant 4-0 win after losing the opener. The defeat was the first time India had lost four consecutive matches in a bilateral T20I series. After the comprehensive victory, England also replaced India as the No. 1 T20I team in the latest ICC rankings.
Reacting to the series, Kaif criticized the Indian team management, stating that their decisions eroded the confidence of key players.“I have never seen the management of the Indian cricket team more confused. The handling of Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Sanju Samson has been far from professional. One is a generational talent, the other is a World Cup winner. They should be given confidence, not doubts in their minds,” Kaif wrote on X.
After the opening T20I, Sanju Samson was replaced by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the second T20I. However, in the fifth T20I, Samson returned to the playing XI to replace Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
England are dominating the T20I series
The five-match series began with the opener at Chester-le-Street abandoned without a result due to persistent rain.England then dominated the second T20I in Manchester, chasing down India 190/7 with four wickets in hand. The match was notable for 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who became India’s youngest-ever T20I bowler, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record.The third T20I in Nottingham proved disastrous for India as they were bundled out for just 76, their second lowest total in T20I history, handing England a crushing 125-run win.The hosts continued their dominance in Bristol, chasing down India 158/7 in just 13.5 overs to seal a one-sided nine-wicket win.England capped the series in emphatic fashion at Southampton, with Jos Buttler scoring 131 off 64 balls and Harry Brooke’s unbeaten 95, taking them to 257/3, the highest total India has ever conceded in T20I cricket. India responded with 201/8, with Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma scoring half-centuries, but the visitors still trailed by 56 runs.The two teams will now shift their focus to the three-match ODI series, which begins on July 14.