R Ashwin and Gautam Gambhir (Source: AFP)
The game of Cricket is cruel sometimes and can make things go from bad to worse in just one series. The Indian team's difficult run in T20I cricket continued after they lost the five-match series against England 4-0.
The hosts won the last and the final T20I by 56 runs at The Rose Bowl in Southampton on Saturday.
After India's defeat in the 5th T20I, former star player R Ashwin took a brutal dig at India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir and newly appointed T20I captain Shreyas Iyer.
The defeat also added another unwanted record for India's T20I captain Shreyas Iyer. It was the first time India had lost four matches in a bilateral T20I series.
It also extended India’s winless streak in the shortest format to seven matches, making it the longest such run in the team’s T20I history.
Before the England series, India had already suffered a 2-0 series defeat against Ireland, making the UK tour a forgettable one for the visitors.
England Finish The Job With Dominant Batting Display
After being asked to bat first, England posted a massive 257/3 on the board.
The early dismissal of Phil Salt gave India some hope, but that quickly disappeared as Jos Buttler and captain Harry Brook took complete control of the innings.
Buttler played one of the finest knocks of the series, scoring a brilliant 131, while Brook remained unbeaten on 95. The pair stitched together a stunning 233-run partnership for the second wicket.
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Chasing a huge target, India never looked fully in control. Ishan Kishan fought hard and made 56 runs off 35 balls, while Tilak Varma added 53, but regular wickets prevented India from building any real momentum.
The visitors eventually finished on 201/8, handing England a comfortable 56-run win.
R Ashwin Lashes Out At Gautam Gambhir
India’s disappointing performances did not go unnoticed, and former spinner R Ashwin openly questioned the decisions made by the team management led by head coach Gautam Gambhir.
R Ashwin said that the real challenge for any coach is to keep the dressing room stable during difficult times rather than when the team is winning regularly. According to him, India failed to build consistency because the playing XI kept changing from one match to another.
R Ashwin also pointed out that the frequent changes in the squad created confusion among players and made it difficult for them to settle into their roles.
He also mentioned disappointment at how Sanju Samson and young opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi were handled during the tour.
Gautam Gambhir's Coaching Creditalis Hit A Massive
Gautam Gambhir is facing growing pressure as India's head coach after a series of disappointing results, especially during the recent UK tour.
Although Gautam Gambhir became the first Indian head coach to win two ICC trophies, he has also been in charge during India's first-ever T20I series defeats against both Ireland and England.
Following these setbacks, the BCCI has started a detailed review of the coaching staff and the team's overall performance.
Gambhir's contract runs until the 2027 ODI World Cup, but with results going against India, his future as head coach is now being closely watched.
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