Second Indian captain to lose consecutive T20I series

Taking charge last month as India’s T20I skipper replacing Suryakumar Yadav, Iyer became only the second Indian captain to lose two consecutive series. India had slumped to a historic 0-2 defeat to Ireland before the poor show in England. Before Iyer, Virat Kohli had suffered to 1-2 and 0-2 defeats to New Zealand and Australia in 2019.

First defeat in consecutive series in seven years

The defeats on the Ireland and England tour have also marked the first instance in seven years where India have lost back-to-back T20I series, since losing to New Zealand and Australia in early 2019.

Third-biggest defeat by balls to spare

England cantered to the 159-run target in only 13.5 deliveries, leaving 37 balls to spare, making it India’s third-biggest defeat by balls remaining in a contest. India have previously lost to Australia twice at Melbourne by greater margins – 52 in 2008 and 40 in 2025.

Chasing a 202-run target in the previous game, India were bundled out for a paltry 76, their second-lowest T20I score, while conceding their biggest defeat in chases (by 125 runs).

First T20I series defeat against England in 12 years

The defeat also marked the first time that India were beaten by England in the shortest format in over a decade. Their last series loss dates back to mid-2014, when they lost the one-off T20I in England.

First bi-lateral series defeat against England since 2018

The series loss also marked the first time in eight years that India had suffered a bi-lateral series defeat against England across all formats in Englnd. The unbeaten run had included three T20I, three ODI and two Test series in the eight-year period.

 

After Archer had dismissed Sooryavanshi at Trent Bridge in a 125-rout of India, the pacer had been asked at the press conference about their showdown.

“I think it’s even now. But we’ve got another two games left and it could go either way, so may the best man win,” Archer had said with a smile.

Before Thursday’s game, in the England series, Sooryavanshi had hit four sixes in his first two games. He added just one more to that tally on Thursday.

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After India won the toss and Shreyas Iyer opted to bat first, it took Sooryavanshi six balls before he hit his first convincing shot of the game: a back of a length ball from Josh Tongue was slapped to deep extra cover for a four. The next ball, a shorter one with width, was upper-cut for a six at the deep fine leg boundary.

Sooryavanshi had made his intent known from the first ball from Archer, a wide ball outside the legside.