Iyer slams 'atrocious' batting order after India's 125-run loss to England

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Following a massive 125-run loss to England in the third T20I, Indian skipper Shreyas Iyer expressed that the team’s batting performance was ‘atrocious’ and ‘unacceptable’, saying that the team needs to go back to the drawing board.

Coming off a shocking 0-2 clean sweep against Ireland, the Indian team has fallen 2-0 behind in this five-match series against England, leaving a series draw as their best possible outcome.

During the post-match presentation, Iyer said that the surface at Nottingham was not a 200-run wicket, despite Phil Salt smashing a blistering 70 off 44 balls to set up a massive total for the hosts.

“I think it was atrocious. I couldn’t use a better word, honestly. Losing by such a big margin is definitely not acceptable. First things first, I feel that we need to accept this loss and completely go back to the drawing board and see what we did wrong. Looking at the wicket, I don’t think that it was a 200-wicket, first of all, to start with. But other than that, the way we batted, we lost four (five) wickets in the powerplay. I think that it created the momentum, and I definitely feel that we lost over there. So, we have got to go back to the drawing board.” Iyer said.

England’s pace attack dismantled India in a historic Nottingham win

Put into bat, England got off to a flying start as Phil Salt and Jos Buttler stitched together a quick 43-run opening partnership before Prince Yadav dismissed Buttler for a 21-ball 36. Indian bowlers Prince and Harshit Rana briefly pulled things back, reducing the hosts to 111/4 in 12 overs. 

However, Salt’s half-century alongside a crucial unbeaten cameo from Sam (41 off 24) and late fireworks from Will Jacks propelled England to a commanding 201/7. 

India’s chase virtually ended inside the powerplay. Despite aggressive opening sixes from Abhishek Sharma and teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, England quicks Josh Tongue (4/28) and Player of the Match Jofra Archer (3/29) wrecked the top order to leave India reeling at 52/5 after the powerplay.

The visitors were bundled out for just 76 runs in just 11.4 overs, marking India’s second-lowest T20I total in history and their longest winless streak in the format.

(With inputs from ANI)

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