The Indian men’s T20I team looks much more unsettled than what’s expected of a side that has won back-to-back World Cups in the format. Sunil Gavaskar termed their 0-2 series whitewash against Ireland
as one of the darkest days in Indian cricket, and now Harry Brook’s England seem to have figured out how to restrict the World Champions, which bowlers to target, and which batters struggle against which bowlers.
Don’t be surprised if more wholesale changes are made for the third T20I of the series as the Gautam Gambhir-Shreyas Iyer combination looks for their maiden win in international cricket.
The bowling attack did decently well together, so most of them should be safe for another match. But both Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan relentlessly singled out leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi for the loss in the second match. The leg-spinner conceded 60 runs in his four wicketless overs, giving up 29 in his last.
“We were always in a situation where, we thought we had the game. But getting those free hits made it easier for him to get relief, get the pressure out of him,” Ishan told reporters after the match.
Questions should also be raised on why Bishnoi was bowling the 17th over of the innings in the first place, but it would be a shock if he’s retained for another game. India only has Washington Sundar as a spinner available on the bench but his performances haven’t been great either.
It could be a good chance to bring back Prince Yadav as an extra pacer and reward him for his three wickets.
Too many left-handers?
Former India batter Mohammad Kaif raised a crucial point on his YouTube channel recently, reminding viewers how Sanju Samson was brought back to the playing 11 in the middle of the 2026 T20 World Cup because of how easy the opponents were finding it against the two left-handed openers.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi showed glimpses of his talent on debut, but even he got out to Will Jacks’ off-spin. With Sooryavanshi in and Sanju out, Shreyas is the only right-hander in India’s top seven, which could be an easily exploitable weakness going forward.
If India realise that, dropping one of Kishan or Tilak Varma (though his vice-captaincy makes it complicated) for one of Samson and all-rounder Suryansh Shedge could be looked at. In Samson’s case, he could again be asked to open, with either him or Sooryavanshi dropping at three. Samson’s history of doing well in that spot in the IPL might make him a better choice for that role than the 15-year-old.
